The Signature of the Envoy
A seal that never lies has been placed, this once, in the service of a lie. The forgery is skilled: only an eye trained on the archives found its flaw. On the Chancellery's list stand Sword-Bearer Dragos, Ilinca the Baker, Father Nicodim, Gavril the Farrier and Damaschin the Healer; one of these names covers a lie. The hours in question: "at dawn", "after matins", "at noon", "at dusk" and "at vespers". 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 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 weighs flour to the gram and people at a glance. No one stays in her debt twice.
1.62 m
right-handed
brown eyes
chestnut hair
He hears the confessions of the whole court. Forgetting, he says, is a gift from the Lord - one he sells dearly.
1.72 m
right-handed
blue eyes
greying hair
Arms like tree trunks and a forge where all noise dies. Some things are better beaten while hot.
1.88 m
right-handed
dark eyes
black hair
He knows the cure for any illness and the dose at which the cure becomes something else. He swears he has never mistaken the dosage.
1.71 m
left-handed
green eyes
grey hair
Locations
the great stable
It smells of hay and hurried departures. Horses give no testimony.
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 castle cellar
Barrels as big as carts and corners the lantern never reaches.
the watchtower
The highest point of the fortress. From here you see everything - and from below, everyone sees who climbs up.
the north wall
The stretch of wall the patrol skirts when the wind blows. Everyone knows that.
Objects
the customs scales
Copper pans, sealed weights. One of the weights rings hollow.
the abbess's bell
It calls the nuns to prayer. On the night in question, they all say, it rang once too many.
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 ciphered letter
Orderly rows of meaningless signs. The ink is costly, the paper costlier, the sender - unknown.
Motives
the inheritance
O avere așteptată, pe care numai o moarte o desparte de mână.
ambition
Setea de a urca, chiar peste trupuri, spre o treaptă mai înaltă.
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.
revenge
O datorie de sânge pe care numai fapta o mai șterge.
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.
- By the order of the hours, first comes Damaschin the Healer, then Gavril the Farrier.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the hunting crossbow matches that hour: at dawn.
- Two witnesses, upon their crest: the left-handed suspect was not driven by ambition.
- The traces left at the scene show it plainly: the culprit handled the customs scales.
- The customs register is clear: Father Nicodim never set foot in the place the patrol skirts when the wind blows.
- In the gate ledger, Ilinca the Baker stands higher, Gavril the Farrier lower.
- The gate guard swears: the ermine cloak matches that hour: after matins.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the customs scales and fear of exposure go together.
- Whatever the market gossips: the suspect with grey hair was not present after matins.
- A maid whispered it at confession: the castle cellar matches that hour: at noon.
- The gate guard swears: the abbess's bell and blackmail go together.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: Ilinca the Baker was in the place far from the eyes of the court.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: Father Nicodim was driven by the inheritance.
- Damaschin the Healer declares under oath: "I was at the great stable".
- Every scout reports the same about the culprit: the culprit was there at dusk.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: Gavril the Farrier was in the place where the lantern never reaches.