The small pewter ballot box is handed to me and I open it cautiously. The last six of these has contained at least one red ball to veto the candidate.
We had started strong and had gotten to eight new council members relatively quickly, I had held hope that we would be done by nightfall and then when we got to single nomination candidates the flow fell apart. The first five had been vetoed until finally we got our ninth member and now a further six in our search for the final member. I dare not hope but Ariton had a strong pitch and a good heritage, I was happy to welcome him onto the council.
I force myself to look down and there it is miracle of all miracles not a single red ball in the box! “We have a tenth!” I declare jubilantly and again we all stand and raise our goblets in toast
