The piece of the story goes like this :
"The merchant hands you a shiny glass ball, which glows blue when it touches your fingertips, he pulls the brim of his hat over his eyes and says suspiciously “I assure you, you have made a wise choice” you look back to your party who are on their way to the front of the castle, and when you turn back to ask “how much” the merchant is no where to be seen."