"Okay." The biggest secret of your life, Trent." Mrs. Collins stared into my eyes and I didn't flinch. I already had the biggest secret of my life, no...hing she could say would ever top the fact that I'd fucked my mom."I won't tell anyone anything, I swear."I had no idea what she could possibly want, or why it would have to be a secret. If it meant I could be with Julie, that's all that mattered. I could make-up with her, I just needed a chance. Bambi had tricked me, like seduced me or whatever.. Could she get out of this unpleasantness? Libby could handle the paddle, the cane, even the Scottish tawse, and that horrible leather scourge that Pepper had bought at the flea market last month, the one that had opened a vicious welt on Libby’s thigh.But the Reminder had a terrible effect on Libby, the pain was just unbearable!?P-please, Pepper, don’t-don’t use the Reminder on me, I-I-? But Pepper was tapping the Reminder in one manicured hand, and crooking her finger. Oh that nasty. That experience was too painful to want to repeat!”“I’m sorry, Jill. I had forgotten about that problem. This short staff and this long one are both intended for a wizard, and I should never have brought them to you. This war hammer is attuned to the magic of a paladin, and it may give you the same kind of problem. What do you think of the remaining four items?”“I’m not sure. This mace looks promising. What is its magic?”“That mace projects a protective aura that is like a hemispherical shield.. "Sure, I'll be there in a minute." Thanks!" she smiles and heads back to the gym.I curse quietly to myself, replace the paper on the pile and get up to follow her.I never really go to the gym. It's a huge room filled with all sorts of sports equipment. I give her hand moving some gear around and then take a moment to sit and collect my breath."You look exhausted." Gee, I wonder how she noticed that."Yeah, I'm not in the shape I used to be." What's the matter Joe, you seem down." I don't know.