"Quit while I'm ahead?" Hauke said, frowning at the shopkeeper's underhanded seeming offer.
Looking at the puzzle in front of him, placing the seventh rod would certainly be a challenge. The puzzle already looked complete with just six pieces, and it seemed like the whole thing would collapse under the weight of the seventh no matter where he added it. Whoever had designed the puzzle was clearly a master of their craft, and Hauke had nothing but respect for the distant master who had produced the puzzle.
For a moment, Hauke paused, wondering if the shopkeeper was actually trying to do him a kindness instead of encouraging him to stop short. He still had plenty of silver in the purse that Ashlynn had given him, but there were only so many hours left before they would need to leave the festival to attend the evening's banquet.
