The Trap of the Chancellery
A ciphered letter, found where it had no business being, put the Chancellery on alert: someone is prying for another crown. What has leaked so far is hard to weigh; what might yet leak, impossible. Before you, one by one, will stand Nichifor the Spy, Castellan Ursu, Ilinca the Baker and Costache the Toll-Keeper. The testimonies cling to certain hours: "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
Officially, he does not exist. Unofficially, he was seen in three places at once - which is, of course, impossible.
1.74 m
left-handed
dark eyes
brown hair
He keeps the fortress dungeon and the tally of those who leave other than they entered.
1.90 m
right-handed
dark eyes
black 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
His scales weigh the goods; his eye, the merchant. Both can be "greased" at need.
1.80 m
right-handed
dark eyes
grey hair
Locations
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 old chapel
Candles, incense, and a silence in which every footstep echoes like a confession.
the wharf
Moored boats, wet ropes, and goods that prefer to arrive in the fog.
the Golden Boar inn
Wine watered down and rumours diluted with nothing. The rooms upstairs ask no questions.
Objects
the bishop's chalice
Gold set with blue stones. Blessed three times, stolen twice.
the silver-clad icon
The silver casing is old craftsmanship; the nails that hold it were driven this week.
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.
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.
- The chronicler notes drily: Castellan Ursu was in the place far from the eyes of the court, whatever the court may say.
- A maid whispered it at confession: Nichifor the Spy handled the purse of gold coins.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the silver-clad icon matches that hour: after matins.
- A maid whispered it at confession: Costache the Toll-Keeper was at the Golden Boar inn.
- Every scout reports the same about the culprit: the culprit was at the old chapel.
- The customs register is clear: the suspect with grey hair was not present at dawn.
- The gate guard swears: Castellan Ursu was there at dusk.
- The healer says it with a raised finger: if Castellan Ursu handled the bishop's chalice, then the left-handed suspect was at the old chapel.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the Golden Boar inn and the bronze key go together.