The Testimony of the Lady
Someone slipped poison where it did not belong, and now the whole court eyes its goblets warily. Between remedy and venom runs a thin line, and someone at court crossed it knowingly. Suspicion has fallen on Mihu the Archer, Costache the Toll-Keeper, Duchess Amara de Corvin, Teofil the Chronicler and Elisei the Stargazer — and until the proof is plain, none of these names leaves the room. On the inquiry's table, like pieces in a game, lie the map of the realm, the royal seal, the hunting crossbow, the purse of gold coins and the bronze key. Few files have tested so many investigators; untangle the threads, catch the lie, and pronounce your verdict.
Suspects
He hits a coin tossed on the wind from a hundred paces. At questions, though, he always misses.
1.76 m
left-handed
brown eyes
brown hair
His scales weigh the goods; his eye, the merchant. Both can be "greased" at need.
1.80 m
right-handed
dark eyes
grey 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
He writes the kingdom's history as he is ordered. The unwelcome drafts, however, he keeps every one.
1.69 m
left-handed
brown eyes
greying hair
He reads the future in the stars and the past in men's debts. The second method fails less often.
1.67 m
right-handed
blue eyes
greying hair
Locations
the old dungeon
Cells abandoned since the new dungeon was built. "Abandoned" is one way of putting it.
the merchant's house
Carpets brought from overseas and a desk with more secret drawers than drawers.
the great stable
It smells of hay and hurried departures. Horses give no testimony.
the wharf
Moored boats, wet ropes, and goods that prefer to arrive in the fog.
the north wall
The stretch of wall the patrol skirts when the wind blows. Everyone knows that.
Objects
the map of the realm
The kingdom's borders, drawn with a fresh correction where there should be none.
the royal seal
Whoever holds it can seal any decree. Which is why it should not be wandering the kingdom.
the hunting crossbow
Light, accurate, with a walnut stock. Exactly one bolt is missing from the quiver.
the purse of gold coins
New coins, unworn, from a minting not yet in circulation. Interesting.
the bronze key
Heavy, old, its teeth worn smooth. No one knows what door it opens anymore - or so they say.
Motives
ambition
Setea de a urca, chiar peste trupuri, spre o treaptă mai înaltă.
blackmail
Un secret ținut ca funia la gât, strâns exact cât trebuie.
greed
Dorința nesățioasă de avere, care nu se oprește la nimic.
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.
- A maid whispered it at confession: Costache the Toll-Keeper was driven by ambition.
- The healer says it with a raised finger: if Mihu the Archer was driven by jealousy, then Elisei the Stargazer was driven by blackmail.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: Mihu the Archer was driven by jealousy.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: Teofil the Chronicler was at the great stable.
- An unsigned note, slipped under the door: "the culprit was driven by the inheritance".
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: ambition matches that hour: at vespers.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the merchant's house and the bronze key go together.
- The gate guard swears: the purse of gold coins matches that hour: at dusk.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: Teofil the Chronicler was there at dusk.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: the wharf and the inheritance go together.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the old dungeon matches that hour: at dawn.
- Mihu the Archer declares under oath: "I handled the hunting crossbow".
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: Elisei the Stargazer handled the bronze key.
- The gate guard swears: the map of the realm matches that hour: after matins.