Huntsong Chapter 8 — Haeight

Chapter 8 — Haeight
Chapter 7 — Cara	Chapter 9 — Sasi
Chapter List
	Huntsong

Huntsong Chapter 8 — Haeight is the 8th chapter of Huntsong.

On her way out of Meronome, Haieght almost runs over a Dwarf and a Human. Exhausted beyond belief, she zones out during the thirty-mile horse-back journey until she reaches her destination at Kokrel, where a group of [Hunters] and the Watch are waiting for her. They brief her on the situation and their fortifications, but Haeight doesn’t waste time. Ignoring her training with Aishe, she attacks the Crypt Lord and the Ghouls head-on. As the other [Hunters] cover her with crossbow bolts, Haeight keeps out of the Crypt Lord’s range, dodging its blows and using it to knock the other undead away. In its dying moments, the Crypt Lord realizes that the [Huntress] had simply used the fastest way to finish it off, not through strategy or bravery, but exhaustion.

Impressed with Haieght's slaying of the Crypt Lord, [Hunters] and militia build a pyre to burn the undead corpses, much to Haeight’s relief. They are shocked to learn that Haeight had slain nine Crypt Lords in the last seven months. The exhausted [Hunter] rides back to Meronome, asleep on the saddle. Ten hours of sleep later, Haeight is still exhausted. She confides to Marvekh that she could use some more sleep, but is unaware of [Royal Commander of the Deathhunt] Agshiga and Guildmistress Delifec behind her. Delifec criticizes Haeight’s performance at Kokrel and notes that she hadn’t claimed an indulgence yet. The Guildmistress forces Haieght to claim the indulgence of sloth and take six days rest. When Haeight protests, Delifec’s gaze literally pierces through the [Hunter’s] chest, leaving a red weal. Marvekh gives Haeight a Hunter’s card, eligible for twenty gold coins at most shops in Meronome.

The indulgences are the seven deadly sins: sloth, gluttony, greed, pride, wrath, lust, and envy. All [Hunters] partake one every three months, while Veteran Hunters partake in it monthly. Many [Hunters] detest the system, regarding it as a waste of resources and time, as the Dedicated Hunters are worked to the bone, while the Veterans are indulging. While Marvekh is explaining the Hunter’s Cards to Haeight, another Hunter named Withrel comes up to claim his indulgence of greed, which comes in the form of eighty gold coins, more than what any regular [Hunter] earns in a year. As they are leaving the Guild, they come across Veteran Hunter Loshell with a group of [Veteran Hunters], who all seem like they are about to go for a relaxing day instead of hunting. Haeight, already angered, is infuriated when Loshell claims that she is following in Dorikhem’s footsteps, who also followed an indulgence of sloth. Marvekh advises Haeight to be more subtle, though he is just as curious about the Veteran Hunters; while the Dedicated Hunters are being overworked, the Veteran Hunters disappear for around a week doing unknown requests, before coming back to claim their indulgences. Marvekh reveals to Haeight that there has been an secret, ongoing investigation among the Dedicated Hunters, though members who rose to the Veteran rank were turned to the indulgences and refused to speak, or died. Haieght promises to do her best to pretend, and is surprised to hear news that Greina and her team are in town.