The Silence of the Chancellery
A plot hatched in the shadows threatens the crown, and whoever hatched it still sits at the court's table. Those caught in it swear they knew nothing; one of them swears falsely. The testimonies keep returning to the same names: Abbot Corvus, Anica the Miller, Lady Ruxandra and Sword-Bearer Dragos. The hours in question: "at dawn", "after matins", "at noon" and "at dusk". Open the grid, weigh every clue, and pronounce your verdict: the Chancellery awaits only your signature.
Suspects
He raises ravens in the abbey tower. His birds arrive faster than any messenger - and cannot be held to account.
1.78 m
right-handed
dark eyes
bald
Her mill grinds grain by day and rumours by night. The flour comes out white; the rumours, always black.
1.63 m
right-handed
brown eyes
blond 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
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
Locations
the queen's garden
Roses trimmed to a line and paths you may walk only by invitation. At night, the hedge has ears.
the guild forge
Anvils, tongs, and a fire that never goes out. Many small metal things vanish here.
the cathedral crypt
The old kings sleep beneath crested slabs. Now and then, someone disturbs their rest.
the mill by the river
The wheel turns day and night. Its noise drowns out any conversation - which is why some are held here.
Objects
the ermine cloak
White fur with black tails - only the royal family may wear it. It has a tear at the hem.
the rusted sword
An old weapon, forgotten on the rack. The rust on the blade is newer than it looks.
the bishop's chalice
Gold set with blue stones. Blessed three times, stolen twice.
the hunting crossbow
Light, accurate, with a walnut stock. Exactly one bolt is missing from the quiver.
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.
| SUSPECTS | LOCATIONS | OBJECTS | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
| MOMENTS | |
||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| OBJECTS | |
||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| LOCATIONS | |
||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
Verdict
The culprit always lies; everyone else tells the truth.
- The Chancellery checked twice: the bishop's chalice does not match that hour: at dusk.
- In the gate ledger, Sword-Bearer Dragos stands higher, the shortest suspect lower.
- The bell-ringer remembers well: the suspect with blue eyes came earlier than the bald suspect.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the guild forge and the hunting crossbow go together.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the suspect with chestnut hair was in the place where the old kings sleep.
- The traces left at the scene show it plainly: the culprit handled the ermine cloak.
- A maid whispered it at confession: the ermine cloak matches that hour: at noon.
- By the order of the hours, first comes Anica the Miller, then Lady Ruxandra.
- The gate guard swears: the mill by the river matches that hour: at dusk.