A Counter-proposal, Followed by a Counter-counter-proposal

"A referee who is still left in the contest could have a vested interest in seeing the stronger of the two competitors lose," Checkers pointed out. "Not that I am bothered for myself, as I do not expect to win the contest anyway, but perhaps it would be better to choose by lot amongst those already eliminated?"

"But if you accept that, then logically it ought to apply to all the bouts," Fred said, "not just those involving Astra Cistrygia."

"But, if you ignore this world's Astra, then only members of our party have so far been eliminated," Annafrid pointed out. "Yourself, Belboz and Checkers are all still in the running. So the remaining bouts in this round would have to be judged by one of us, which is surely the very thing that you are objecting to."

1. Further discussion ensues.
2. "I'm beginning to think that this contest was a bad idea," Lueoth says. "It's caused nothing but trouble. Perhaps a leader should simply be chosen by lot, and be done with it?"

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