“I thought you weren’t interested in puzzles,” Smolder says to Gallus.
“I wasn’t … but we’ve been getting so many of these lately, I can’t help but grow at least some interest, right?”
“So the fact that I can’t solve this is enough to let you solve this?” Ocellus asks.
“It’s not just that you can’t solve the whole puzzle … it’s that you can’t figure out anyone else’s number. That’s what gives me your number; I already know both Smolder’s and Sandbar’s.”
“Really?” Sandbar asks. “How?”
“Smolder said her number was three less than Sandbar’s. That forces their numbers to be either 1 and 4, 2 and 5, or 3 and 6 … but they can’t be 2 and 5, because Yona already said her number was 2. So that leaves either 1 and 4 or 3 and 6.”
“OK, so how you know Ocellus number?” Yona asks.
“If Ocellus had either 1 or 4, she would know that Smolder and Sandbar had 3 and 6. And if Ocellus had either 3 or 6, she would know that Smolder and Sandbar had 1 and 4. In any of those cases, she would know more than just her own number and Yona’s. The only way she could be completely stuck is if she has 5.”
Ocellus shows her number to the others. “You’re right … I do have 5 … and I don’t feel so stupid, now.”
“ ‘Stupid’ is the last word I would ever use to describe you,” Gallus flatly states.
“Yeah, you’re brilliant,” Silverstream adds. Ocellus smiles at the comments.
Yona speaks up: “So … since griffin say he have higher number, he have 6. And that mean dragon have 1 and pony have 4.”
“And that leaves 3 for Silverstream,” Ocellus adds.
“And that’s all there is to it,” Gallus concludes: “Smolder has 1, Yona has 2, Silverstream has 3, Sandbar has 4, Ocellus has 5, and I have 6 … and considering my baking prowess, it’s just as well I go last.”
The group shares one final chuckle before heading to their next class.