The Signature of Winter
The council's secrets have reached where they never should have — and not on their own: someone carried them. The spy knows the corridors better than the guards do — an ill sign: it is one of the household. On the Chancellery's list stand Princess Smaranda, Lady Ruxandra, Balasa the Seamstress and Duchess Amara de Corvin; one of these names covers a lie. On the inquiry's table, like pieces in a game, lie the map of the realm, the herald's horn, the ruby dagger and the bishop's chalice. Study the testimonies at your leisure, fit them into the grid, and pronounce your verdict without haste.
Suspects
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
The queen's shadow at every hour. She hears everything, sees everything, and embroiders all she learns into patterns known only to her.
1.65 m
right-handed
blue eyes
blond hair
She sews the garments of all the nobility and knows everyone's measurements - including those that do not show.
1.59 m
left-handed
blue eyes
red 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
Locations
the mill by the river
The wheel turns day and night. Its noise drowns out any conversation - which is why some are held here.
the abbey library
Thousands of leather-bound tomes. Some of the chains on the shelves were cut recently.
the old dungeon
Cells abandoned since the new dungeon was built. "Abandoned" is one way of putting it.
the throne room
Gold, purple, and the most closely watched place in the kingdom. In theory.
Objects
the map of the realm
The kingdom's borders, drawn with a fresh correction where there should be none.
the herald's horn
It sounds the muster, the alarm, or the retreat. Whoever holds it can start a whole panic with a single breath.
the ruby dagger
A short blade, its hilt set with a stone red as a frozen drop. It was sharpened recently.
the bishop's chalice
Gold set with blue stones. Blessed three times, stolen twice.
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.
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.
- A maid whispered it at confession: Lady Ruxandra handled the map of the realm.
- About the culprit, the Chancellery knows one thing for certain: the culprit handled the bishop's chalice.
- The chronicler notes drily: the mill by the river matches that hour: at dusk, whatever the court may say.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: the suspect with black hair handled the herald's horn.
- The chronicler notes drily: the old dungeon matches that hour: at dawn, whatever the court may say.
- The chronicler notes drily: the map of the realm matches that hour: after matins, whatever the court may say.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: Princess Smaranda was there at dawn.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the abbey library and the bishop's chalice go together.