The Riddle of Vespers
In the shadow of the council halls, something has been woven against the crown, and its threads lead far. Those caught in it swear they knew nothing; one of them swears falsely. Before you, one by one, will stand Teofil the Chronicler, Sword-Bearer Dragos, Ban Radu the Silent, Duchess Amara de Corvin and Onufrie the Executioner. The hours in question: "at dawn", "after matins", "at noon", "at dusk" and "at vespers". Few files have tested so many investigators; untangle the threads, catch the lie, and pronounce your verdict.
Suspects
He writes the kingdom's history as he is ordered. The unwelcome drafts, however, he keeps every one.
1.69 m
left-handed
brown eyes
greying hair
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
He has never uttered a needless word in his life. Sadly, nor a useful one for investigators.
1.81 m
right-handed
grey eyes
grey hair
Widowed three times, heir on each occasion. Her smile has buried more nobles than the plague.
1.68 m
right-handed
dark eyes
black hair
A quiet man with a loud trade. He keeps a notebook of the last words of every condemned soul.
1.92 m
right-handed
dark eyes
bald
Locations
the old dungeon
Cells abandoned since the new dungeon was built. "Abandoned" is one way of putting it.
the guild forge
Anvils, tongs, and a fire that never goes out. Many small metal things vanish here.
the castle cellar
Barrels as big as carts and corners the lantern never reaches.
the Golden Boar inn
Wine watered down and rumours diluted with nothing. The rooms upstairs ask no questions.
the queen's garden
Roses trimmed to a line and paths you may walk only by invitation. At night, the hedge has ears.
Objects
the rusted sword
An old weapon, forgotten on the rack. The rust on the blade is newer than it looks.
the hunting crossbow
Light, accurate, with a walnut stock. Exactly one bolt is missing from the quiver.
the small wine cask
Arin wine, the good year. The bung was pulled and put back by an unskilled hand.
the ciphered letter
Orderly rows of meaningless signs. The ink is costly, the paper costlier, the sender - unknown.
the stained parchment
A half-burned document with a stain that might be wine. Or not.
Motives
greed
Dorința nesățioasă de avere, care nu se oprește la nimic.
jealousy
Otrava care mistuie pe cel ce râvnește ce nu-i al lui.
revenge
O datorie de sânge pe care numai fapta o mai șterge.
fear of exposure
Groaza de a fi dat în vileag, care împinge la orice.
a debt of honour
O făgăduială care cântărește mai greu decât viața.
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 tracks in the dust do not lie: the castle cellar and the stained parchment go together.
- At the Chancellery, Onufrie the Executioner maintains: "I was there at vespers".
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: the old dungeon and greed go together.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: revenge matches that hour: at dawn.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the hunting crossbow matches that hour: at dusk.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: Teofil the Chronicler handled the hunting crossbow.
- The customs register is clear: the suspect with chestnut hair never set foot in the queen's garden.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: jealousy matches that hour: at dusk.
- The gate guard swears: the Golden Boar inn and jealousy go together.
- Whatever the market gossips: the suspect with grey hair was not driven by a debt of honour.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the suspect with black hair handled the small wine cask.
- About the culprit, the Chancellery knows one thing for certain: the culprit was there at dawn.
- The hounds caught no scent at all: the queen's garden and the rusted sword do not go together.
- In the gate ledger, Duchess Amara de Corvin stands higher, the suspect with grey eyes lower.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the ciphered letter and a debt of honour go together.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the stained parchment and revenge go together.
- The gate guard swears: a debt of honour matches that hour: at noon.