The Silence of the Crown
Not one deed but a whole scheme has come to light — laid patiently, in secret. The crown demands not only the name but the proof: suspicion without grounds is itself a tool of the scheme. Before you, one by one, will stand Safta the Herbwife, Pantelimon the Gardener, Iustin the Mariner, Sword-Bearer Dragos and Manole the Jeweller. The places named in the testimonies — the mill by the river, the cathedral crypt, the tourney field, the throne room and the great stable — each await their turn under scrutiny. A sharp eye is not enough here — it takes an archivist's patience: fit everything together, then pronounce your verdict.
Suspects
She gathers herbs at hours when honest folk sleep. The herbs, she says, speak then.
1.58 m
right-handed
green eyes
greying hair
He tends the queen's roses and no one's beds of belladonna. The second garden is the more sought-after.
1.73 m
right-handed
green eyes
greying 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 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
He tells gold from gilt at a glance. With people, he admits, it takes him two.
1.69 m
right-handed
brown eyes
brown 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 cathedral crypt
The old kings sleep beneath crested slabs. Now and then, someone disturbs their rest.
the tourney field
Empty stands outside festival days. An excellent place for meetings that never happened.
the throne room
Gold, purple, and the most closely watched place in the kingdom. In theory.
the great stable
It smells of hay and hurried departures. Horses give no testimony.
Objects
the map of the realm
The kingdom's borders, drawn with a fresh correction where there should be none.
the ermine cloak
White fur with black tails - only the royal family may wear it. It has a tear at the hem.
the ciphered letter
Orderly rows of meaningless signs. The ink is costly, the paper costlier, the sender - unknown.
the broken lantern
The glass cracked, the wick burned to the end. Someone needed a lot of light, fast.
the bishop's chalice
Gold set with blue stones. Blessed three times, stolen twice.
Motives
the inheritance
O avere așteptată, pe care numai o moarte o desparte de mână.
a debt of honour
O făgăduială care cântărește mai greu decât viața.
revenge
O datorie de sânge pe care numai fapta o mai șterge.
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.
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.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: Manole the Jeweller handled the map of the realm.
- The bell-ringer remembers well: the tallest suspect came earlier than the left-handed suspect.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the shortest suspect was at the throne room.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the great stable and the inheritance go together.
- Whatever the market gossips: Pantelimon the Gardener never set foot in the cathedral crypt.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: the great stable and the bishop's chalice go together.
- A maid whispered it at confession: Iustin the Mariner was at the great stable.
- The gate guard swears: the broken lantern matches that hour: at dawn.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the tourney field and the ermine cloak go together.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: a debt of honour matches that hour: at noon.
- A maid whispered it at confession: the ermine cloak and revenge go together.
- The bell-ringer remembers well: Manole the Jeweller came earlier than Pantelimon the Gardener.
- By the order of the hours, first comes Safta the Herbwife, then Iustin the Mariner.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: fear of exposure matches that hour: at dusk.
- At the Chancellery, Manole the Jeweller maintains: "I was in the place with stands empty outside festival days".