The Riddle of the Dawn
Someone slipped poison where it did not belong, and now the whole court eyes its goblets warily. Whoever poured it knew the habits of the table; that narrows the circle more than we would like. Suspicion has fallen on Sword-Bearer Dragos, Safta the Herbwife, Sir Bogdan de Fag, Princess Smaranda and Chancellor Veniamin — and until the proof is plain, none of these names leaves the room. On the inquiry's table, like pieces in a game, lie the bishop's chalice, the rusted sword, the ruby dagger, the guild seal and the silver-clad icon. Few files have tested so many investigators; untangle the threads, catch the lie, and pronounce your verdict.
Suspects
He bears the king's ceremonial sword. At the tourney he has never lost; at dice, always.
1.86 m
right-handed
brown eyes
chestnut hair
She gathers herbs at hours when honest folk sleep. The herbs, she says, speak then.
1.58 m
right-handed
green eyes
greying hair
He pawned his armour to pay his tavern debts. Honour, he says, does not rust.
1.85 m
right-handed
blue eyes
brown 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
Every charter of the kingdom passes through his hands. A comma he once moved started a war.
1.64 m
left-handed
grey eyes
bald
Locations
the Golden Boar inn
Wine watered down and rumours diluted with nothing. The rooms upstairs ask no questions.
the north wall
The stretch of wall the patrol skirts when the wind blows. Everyone knows that.
the guild forge
Anvils, tongs, and a fire that never goes out. Many small metal things vanish here.
the salt market
Here anything is bargained for, from salt to silences. The price of silence keeps rising.
the customs cellar
Sealed crates, thick ledgers, and air that smells of undeclared goods.
Objects
the bishop's chalice
Gold set with blue stones. Blessed three times, stolen twice.
the rusted sword
An old weapon, forgotten on the rack. The rust on the blade is newer than it looks.
the ruby dagger
A short blade, its hilt set with a stone red as a frozen drop. It was sharpened recently.
the guild seal
The stamp that turns any goods into goods "of certified quality." Worth a mine of gold.
the silver-clad icon
The silver casing is old craftsmanship; the nails that hold it were driven this week.
Motives
fear of exposure
Groaza de a fi dat în vileag, care împinge la orice.
blackmail
Un secret ținut ca funia la gât, strâns exact cât trebuie.
a debt of honour
O făgăduială care cântărește mai greu decât viața.
greed
Dorința nesățioasă de avere, care nu se oprește la nimic.
jealousy
Otrava care mistuie pe cel ce râvnește ce nu-i al lui.
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.
at vespers
At the evening service, when the bells drown out any footstep.
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.
- The chronicler notes drily: a debt of honour matches that hour: at noon, whatever the court may say.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: the guild seal and greed go together.
- The gate guard swears: the guild forge and the guild seal go together.
- The healer says it with a raised finger: if the suspect with brown hair handled the rusted sword, then Chancellor Veniamin handled the bishop's chalice.
- The bell-ringer remembers well: the bald suspect came earlier than the suspect with greying hair.
- The hounds caught no scent at all: Sir Bogdan de Fag was not driven by greed.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the silver-clad icon matches that hour: at dusk.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: Chancellor Veniamin was at the customs cellar.
- The chronicler notes drily: Princess Smaranda was there at dusk, whatever the court may say.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: jealousy matches that hour: after matins.
- About the culprit, the Chancellery knows one thing for certain: the culprit was driven by a debt of honour.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: Princess Smaranda was in the place where the rooms upstairs ask no questions.
- The gate guard swears: the bishop's chalice and fear of exposure go together.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: Safta the Herbwife was at the salt market.
- The hounds caught no scent at all: the north wall and the ruby dagger do not go together.
- Two witnesses, upon their crest: the shortest suspect was not present at noon.