The Knot of the Feast
In the shadow of the council halls, something has been woven against the crown, and its threads lead far. The scheme has many threads but a single knot — and that knot bears a name. Suspicion has fallen on Safta the Herbwife, Lady Ruxandra, Margica the Innkeeper and Princess Smaranda — and until the proof is plain, none of these names leaves the room. Rumor walks the deed through every corner: the old chapel, the cathedral crypt, the customs cellar and the merchant's house. Study the testimonies at your leisure, fit them into the grid, and pronounce your verdict without haste.
Suspects
She gathers herbs at hours when honest folk sleep. The herbs, she says, speak then.
1.58 m
right-handed
green eyes
greying hair
The queen's shadow at every hour. She hears everything, sees everything, and embroiders all she learns into patterns known only to her.
1.65 m
right-handed
blue eyes
blond hair
At the Golden Boar inn, wine and secrets are spilled in equal measure. She never forgets a debt - or a word let slip.
1.61 m
right-handed
dark eyes
chestnut hair
She has refused seven suitors and kept the gifts of all. She calls it practicality, not greed.
1.66 m
right-handed
green eyes
chestnut hair
Locations
the old chapel
Candles, incense, and a silence in which every footstep echoes like a confession.
the cathedral crypt
The old kings sleep beneath crested slabs. Now and then, someone disturbs their rest.
the customs cellar
Sealed crates, thick ledgers, and air that smells of undeclared goods.
the merchant's house
Carpets brought from overseas and a desk with more secret drawers than drawers.
Objects
the rusted sword
An old weapon, forgotten on the rack. The rust on the blade is newer than it looks.
the purse of gold coins
New coins, unworn, from a minting not yet in circulation. Interesting.
the ledger of accounts
Neat columns of figures, with one page torn out exactly at mid-month.
the hunting crossbow
Light, accurate, with a walnut stock. Exactly one bolt is missing from the quiver.
Moments
at dawn
When the citadel is barely waking and the guards still doze.
after matins
The hour after the morning service, when the abbey empties.
at noon
Midday, with bustle in the markets and silence in the alcoves.
at dusk
When the shadows lengthen and the lanterns are not yet lit.
Open the Grid (below) to solve the case, with the testimonies at hand.
Touch a cell: blank → ✗ (excluded) → ✓ (certain) → blank. Each pair of categories meets exactly once.
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Verdict
The culprit always lies; everyone else tells the truth.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the customs cellar matches that hour: at dusk.
- The gate guard swears: the suspect with dark eyes was at the old chapel.
- A maid whispered it at confession: the old chapel and the rusted sword go together.
- About the culprit, the Chancellery knows one thing for certain: the culprit was at the merchant's house.
- By the order of the hours, first comes Princess Smaranda, then Safta the Herbwife.
- The Chancellery checked twice: the ledger of accounts does not match that hour: at dusk.
- By the order of the hours, first comes Margica the Innkeeper, then the suspect with blond hair.
- The gate guard swears: the merchant's house matches that hour: at noon.
- The chronicler notes drily: Princess Smaranda handled the hunting crossbow, whatever the court may say.
- Two witnesses, upon their crest: the cathedral crypt and the hunting crossbow do not go together.