After a well deserved hot meal the group sat around the governor’s table talking comfortably among themselves.

“Percy, what the hell was that about?”

The bandaged man in question gave a teasing look. ”What do you mean? Are you perhaps talking about my valorous moves or my beautiful proclamation?”

Faced with Percy's antics, Linda was caught off guard and showed another rare expression of embarrassment on her usually stoic face, well, not so usual lately.

“Valorous moves…Beautiful proclamation… don't you think it sells your actions a bit short? I dare say I witnessed the peak, the cream of the crop, of stupidity followed by a lack of experience on opposite sex relations that I can’t even fathom. Do you stay in your room reading novels all day by any chance?”

Sudden silence filled the room.

Aegon who was sitting right next to Percy had a stunned expression frozen on his face just like everyone else apart from Linda herself who was covering her mouth, definitely shocked by her own words.

“AHAHAHAHAH” A boisterous laugh ripped apart the silence that pervaded the room.

Aegon, the culprit of said rupture, was standing up and clapping with obvious enthusiasm.

“Percy, I was impressed with your bravado but Linda… she blew me away, she blew us all away AHAHAHAH… it was a truly beautiful proclamation, almost had me in tears.”

As he was talking he walked across the table and stopped right in front of the black haired beauty and with all the seriousness he could muster kneeled in front of the young lady.

“Linda, you have proved yourself deserving of my recognition as the queen of shit talking.”

In an over exaggerated manner he turned to the rest of the group.

“Please friends, join me in hailing our queen.”

To his surprise the others stood up from their seats with marvellous expressions, trying to hold in their laughter, and joined him in kneeling.

Percy was feeling particularly embarrassed by Linda’s words and so, during those few seconds of silence, he summoned the experience of all his ancestors with any inkling of talent for the performing arts and delivered a most impassioned speech.

“My queen, I humbly request your forgiveness for my actions, using my meagre ability to talk shit I offended your highness, I have eyes but I couldn’t recognize Mount Tai, I deserve death but I hope my humble apologies and undying loyalty will suffice.”

While speaking his face was the very definition of piety and no one would doubt the sincerity of his words.

[This time I really owe you one Aegon!]

Not wasting this opportunity Aegon shouted at the top of his lungs.

“ALL HAIL QUEEN LINDA!”

And soon after four other voices echoed.

““““ALL HAIL QUEEN LINDA!””””

The queen in question was redder than the reddest of tomatoes and stormed out of the room but not before leaving two equally red hand marks on Aegon’s and Percy’s faces.

Another round of boisterous laughter filled the room, this time much louder as it came from a group of five people.

After a few minutes of tear-inducing laughter the group finally settled back down around the table and began to talk idly before Travis brought up the main issue.

“Well guys it's been fun and all but we haven't completed our mission here.”

Aegon cocked an eyebrow. ”Actually we did, that part was a bonus…”

“But it's a pretty good bonus, yes it's supposed to be 200 points only for the killer but we can split it equally between us, 200 divided by 6 is 33,333… well four of us can just get 33 points while the other two get 34, I for one don’t mind getting only 33 points.”

Travis stopped for a second and looked around the table as he took in everyone’s expressions, a calmer Linda had already returned and was sitting as far away from Aegon and Percy as she possibly could.

“It's not a small amount but we don't have to fully commit yet, we can go there to scout this alpha and decide if it’s worth the risk or not. ” He added.

Aegon was stroking his beardless chin deep in thought. [Hmmm well, I would feel pretty stupid if we left with our tails between our legs afraid to even see what we were up against only for it to turn out being a sligthy bigger and stronger version of the other wolves. But it could also be something dangerous enough that we would be putting ourselves at risk just by going near it.]

[Ahhh, decisions…decisions...]

Silently hoping that the sect wouldn't put out a mission without knowing its potential danger Aegon nodded in agreement to Travis' proposal.

The others soon followed but as they were discussing when to leave the village and where to go Linda brought back an old subject.

“Guys I’ve been thinking and I don't think the way we’re splitting the points for the alpha is fair.”

Aegon’s eyebrow was immediately alerted, he was having a bad feeling about this splitting the points thing.

And sure enough his hunch was right.

“This might sound harsh but everyone here knows the six of us aren't equal in terms of strength and consequently contribution.”

[Fuck.]

The group had varying reactions to Linda’s statement.

Travis had his head lowered, seemingly deep in thought.

Bella was looking away from the three individuals who contributed the least during the attack on Miriande.

Roy sighed and appeared resigned to his fate.

Percy was avoiding eye contact with Linda who was eyeing him with a vengeful smirk.

As for Aegon, he had a large vein on his forehead threatening to explode at any moment as his trusty eyebrow twitched furiously.

[You just had to open your mouth…]

No one talked for a while before Percy gave in to the pressure of Linda’s stare.

“I agree with Linda, we should reward those that have a bigger contribution with a bigger share of the points, If I was one of those people that's what I would have wanted.” As he was talking his mind couldn't help but be honest.

[But this time I would prefer an equal split.]

Roy, who wasn't very prone to talking, sighed loudly to catch everyone's attention.

“I agree with Percy and Linda, we all participated in the defence of the village and we will all get 200 points for it even if some of us did a lot more than the others, that’s fine since it’s the normal mission reward but regarding this bonus, if we want to split it I think we should recognize those who contributed the mos… actually i'll just say your names.”

“Travis and Bella should get the biggest shares of the points.”

Aegon was sorely disappointed in both his fellow low born friends.

[Are you really that worried with how people will perceive you that you give up on benefits? Spineless….]

Yet, even though he insulted his friends he was forced to agree with them for the same reason.

[Now that you guys went and played the good guys I'm forced to agree or else I'll seem greedy.]

And with that the motion was passed.

Linda couldn’t contain a smirk seeing her plan come to fruition.

[Seeing those two bastards suffering makes my loss worth it!]

Turning her head to Roy she felt some pity.

[An unfortunate casualty caught in the crossfire.]

Linda addressed the whole group.

“I have an idea as to how to split the points. We could give a certain amount for each wolf killed. Since 200 can’t be divided by 35, let's say that each wolf is worth 5 points while the remaining 25 go to those who protected or treated the injured.” She shot a glance at the man in question.

“That would be me and Roy so we will just split it in half. He gets 13 points and I get 12. Now we just need to make out how many wolves each of us killed. We will get a mostly fair distribution of the points, it doesn't account for assists but that would be too complicated. Does everyone agree?”

Aegon was having a headache from Linda’s explanation, not because he couldn't understand it, but because he got his point share quickly, too quickly.

15.