Farrah’s stone chest erupted out of the ground. She opened the lid, reached in and came out with an absurdly large book. It seemed like she should be staggering about under the weight, but her small body contained a powerful strength. She slammed the lid of her storage chest down and dropped the book onto it with a resonating thud. It was almost as large and thick itself as the stone chest lid on which it was resting. Bound in thick leather, embossed into the front of the book were the images of two scythes crossed over a skull.

“That’s a hefty and sinister tome you’ve got there,” Jason said, moving to look closer.

“We each agreed to give you a gift,” Rufus said, “as thanks for saving us. Farrah’s you’ve already received. If the others don’t object, I’d like this to be mine.”

“Works for me,” Gary mumbled.

“Well, you were always going to get him a skill book,” Farrah said. “I have to assume this one is better than most.”

“It’s obviously special,” Jason said. “Where did it come from?”

“We can’t tell you that yet,” Rufus said.

“You’re giving him the book,” Farrah said, “but saying where it’s from is where you draw the line?”

“The book wasn’t in the contract,” Rufus said. “Keeping our mouths shut was.”

“So, can I use this?” Jason asked, reaching towards the book.

“Not so fast,” Rufus said. “Now that we’ll be here for a while, we don’t have to be in such a rush. I can make sure you’re ready before letting you use it.”

“And when will that be?” Jason asked.

“I told you when we started,” Rufus said. “There’s going to be a test.”

50. The Full Keanu

50

The Full Keanu

Rufus swung the staff horizontally, Jason swaying back so it passed in front of him. Rufus kept the momentum, bringing the staff up and over into a downward strike. Jason kept control of his balance, shifting to the side without disrupting the centre line of his body. Rufus kept pushing, not too swiftly, but relentlessly. Jason handled the pressure without tripping or stumbling, even as Rufus ramped up the speed. Just as Jason thought it would be too much, Rufus stopped.

“Why am I happy?” Rufus asked, neither looking nor sounding happy.

“Because you finally got me to learn a lesson the hard way?” Jason asked, turning Rufus’s gaze into a glare.

“What is the lesson?”

“That the all exercises you put me through—the balancing, the handstands, the footwork. They were never about making me faster, or more agile. It’s about being in full control of my body.”

A slight smile forced itself onto Rufus’s lips. “Good.”

“Good?”

“Good.”

Jason’s eyes moved over to the huge book still waiting atop Farrah’s stone chest.

“Does that mean I get the book?” Jason asked.