#Chapter 64: Stalemate

Ava The council chamber felt stifling, the heavy oak table and dim lighting only serving to amplify the tension simmering between us all. For hours now, the eight of us had been locked in heated debate over the three finalists, our tempers slowly fraying the longer we failed to reach a consensus. “I believe that Dedrick displayed incredible strength, cunning, and leadership today,” Elder Fatima insisted, her voice rising over the others. “His team absolutely decimated the others during that final chess match.” “All thanks to his instructions,” Bradley added with a nod of his head. “Sam and Allen were truthfully nothing more than followers beneath him. They hardly had minds of their own.” Elder Claire shook her head. “I disagree. Dedrick may have been domineering, yes, but Allen made a lot of smart moves during the chess match—not to mention his slow and steady demeanor during the one-on-one combat trial, when he—” “When he wore down his opponent, yes,” Elder Elise i