The Secret of the Citadel
In Realm of the Crown they say the walls have ears — and this time the saying has proven true. The Chancellery has caught only the end of the thread; the whole skein is still in someone's hands. On the Chancellery's list stand Elisei the Stargazer, Sword-Bearer Dragos, Nichifor the Spy, Iustin the Mariner and Sir Bogdan de Fag; one of these names covers a lie. Motives abound — revenge, a debt of honour, blackmail, fear of exposure and the inheritance — yet only one moved the guilty hand. The threads were tangled on purpose: investigate, weigh every word, and pronounce your verdict only when the grid leaves no room for doubt.
Suspects
He reads the future in the stars and the past in men's debts. The second method fails less often.
1.67 m
right-handed
blue 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
Officially, he does not exist. Unofficially, he was seen in three places at once - which is, of course, impossible.
1.74 m
left-handed
dark eyes
brown hair
He brings goods from ports with unpronounceable names. Half the cargo never appears in the customs records.
1.78 m
left-handed
blue eyes
black 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
Locations
the Golden Boar inn
Wine watered down and rumours diluted with nothing. The rooms upstairs ask no questions.
the hunting lodge
The royal cabin in the heart of the forest. Far from the eyes of the court - which is exactly what suits some.
the queen's garden
Roses trimmed to a line and paths you may walk only by invitation. At night, the hedge has ears.
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.
Objects
the map of the realm
The kingdom's borders, drawn with a fresh correction where there should be none.
the vial of belladonna
A small flask, a wax stopper, a label written with care. Three-quarters empty.
the bronze key
Heavy, old, its teeth worn smooth. No one knows what door it opens anymore - or so they say.
the bishop's chalice
Gold set with blue stones. Blessed three times, stolen twice.
the royal seal
Whoever holds it can seal any decree. Which is why it should not be wandering the kingdom.
Motives
revenge
O datorie de sânge pe care numai fapta o mai șterge.
a debt of honour
O făgăduială care cântărește mai greu decât viața.
blackmail
Un secret ținut ca funia la gât, strâns exact cât trebuie.
fear of exposure
Groaza de a fi dat în vileag, care împinge la orice.
the inheritance
O avere așteptată, pe care numai o moarte o desparte de mână.
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: Nichifor the Spy was driven by revenge.
- The gate guard swears: the Golden Boar inn and blackmail go together.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the suspect with black hair was driven by fear of exposure.
- At the Chancellery, Iustin the Mariner maintains: "I handled the bronze key".
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: fear of exposure matches that hour: at noon.
- The scouts confirm it: at suspects, the paths of the guild forge and the hour "at vespers" diverge.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: Elisei the Stargazer was driven by a debt of honour.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: Nichifor the Spy was at the hunting lodge.
- The night watch saw the suspect with dark eyes first, and only then Iustin the Mariner.
- Before the investigator, Sir Bogdan de Fag firmly repeats: "I was driven by revenge".
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the tallest suspect handled the royal seal.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the guild forge and the bishop's chalice go together.
- The gate guard swears: the old dungeon and the bronze key go together.
- The chronicler notes drily: the vial of belladonna matches that hour: at dusk, whatever the court may say.
- The gate guard swears: the inheritance matches that hour: after matins.