The Shadow of the Citadel
A parchment full of orders no one ever gave is circulating through Realm of the Crown, and the harm has only begun. The forgery is skilled: only an eye trained on the archives found its flaw. On the Chancellery's list stand Castellan Ursu, Luca the Squire, Nichifor the Spy, Princess Smaranda and Chancellor Veniamin; one of these names covers a lie. Rumor walks the deed through every corner: the Golden Boar inn, the tourney field, the great stable, the old chapel and the queen's garden. 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 keeps the fortress dungeon and the tally of those who leave other than they entered.
1.90 m
right-handed
dark eyes
black hair
He polishes the knight's armour and dreams of a sword of his own. For a coat of arms he would do almost anything.
1.72 m
right-handed
green eyes
brown 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
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 tourney field
Empty stands outside festival days. An excellent place for meetings that never happened.
the great stable
It smells of hay and hurried departures. Horses give no testimony.
the old chapel
Candles, incense, and a silence in which every footstep echoes like a confession.
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 ermine cloak
White fur with black tails - only the royal family may wear it. It has a tear at the hem.
the hunting crossbow
Light, accurate, with a walnut stock. Exactly one bolt is missing from the quiver.
the ceremonial crown
The "wearable" copy of the true crown. At least, that was the idea.
the map of the realm
The kingdom's borders, drawn with a fresh correction where there should be none.
the small wine cask
Arin wine, the good year. The bung was pulled and put back by an unskilled hand.
Motives
fear of exposure
Groaza de a fi dat în vileag, care împinge la orice.
greed
Dorința nesățioasă de avere, care nu se oprește la nimic.
a debt of honour
O făgăduială care cântărește mai greu decât viața.
the inheritance
O avere așteptată, pe care numai o moarte o desparte de mână.
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.
- Even the jester says it in earnest: Princess Smaranda never set foot in the old chapel.
- About the culprit, the Chancellery knows one thing for certain: the culprit was driven by greed.
- The Chancellery checked twice: Princess Smaranda never touched the small wine cask.
- At the Chancellery, Nichifor the Spy maintains: "I was in the place where the hedge has ears".
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the hunting crossbow and greed go together.
- A maid whispered it at confession: the great stable and the map of the realm go together.
- The chronicler notes drily: the Golden Boar inn matches that hour: at vespers, whatever the court may say.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: the Golden Boar inn and the inheritance go together.
- The customs register is clear: Nichifor the Spy never touched the hunting crossbow.
- The gate guard swears: the queen's garden and fear of exposure go together.
- The chancellor deduced it coldly: if Castellan Ursu handled the ermine cloak, then Castellan Ursu was driven by the inheritance.
- The gate guard swears: the old chapel matches that hour: at dusk.
- The night watch saw the bald suspect first, and only then Luca the Squire.
- A maid whispered it at confession: Castellan Ursu handled the ermine cloak.
- Whatever the market gossips: the small wine cask does not match that hour: at dawn.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the map of the realm matches that hour: after matins.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: a debt of honour matches that hour: at noon.