The Nameless

Chapter Four: "The Dark Time"

It was when she was lead into the grand hall to eat that the girl realized the small cave she had been sleeping in must have been a type of visitors' quarters. The hall was another cave, but lit by bright torches all along the high walls so that it hardly seemed as if it was underground at all. There was a single, long table, which was nothing more than a massive tree sawn in half and sanded smooth. All down both sides of the table were otters of every size, male, female and child. Each of them had a wooden bowl in front of them piled high with raw fish. The girl with the braids was lead to a seat which she was pleased to see was stocked not by raw fish, but a stew of some sort in which the fish was very much cooked, and the watercress looked particularly appetizing. As the otters around her began to eat, the girl wasted no time in joining them. She saw no spoon or other silverware near her bowl, so she held in her hands and brought it to her lips, blowing the steam from the surface before tipping it back and losing herself in an ecstasy brought on by the simple food. It was not an extravagant meal, but the flavor was unlike anything the girl had ever eaten at the inn back home. A portly otter with narrow eyes waddled up to her with a giant bowl resting against his considerable girth and ladled another portion into her bowl, and looked very pleased to do so. The girl imagined that this must be the chef who was so pleased his food was well-liked.

When the meal was drawing to a close, and more otters than not were leaning back from the table and sighing comfortably, there came two claps from the head of the table, and a silence fell over the great hall. The girl looked to see the king standing up from the table and addressing his people. His face was more stern than when she had last seen him, but his deeply-seated kindness was visible just beneath the veneer of authority required of a king.

"My friends," he began. "By now I'm sure you are all aware that we have a guest." A few uncouth eyes craned towards the human in their midst. The girl was unperturbed and the king continued. "She is of the nameless ranks of Fordham and has stopped here on her journey there." The girl thought this a very kind view of things. "I would ask only that you treat her with kindness and reflect well upon our small kingdom. As we know, it is the purpose the nameless to keep a record of all that goes on under the sun, and we would not like to be remembered poorly when our kingdom has faded into dust." On that fateful note, the king ended his speech and beamed at girl, indicating that she should make her way over to him.

She set out to do just this, but was stopped a multitude of times by friendly paws grasping her by the hand and shaking warmly.

"A real pleasure. Lovely to have you about."

"Now you come call on Marlee with two e's at the end if you need a good supper, ya hear? Any time."

"Kack."

The last message was from an otter pup no older than a few months, resting on his mother's hip.

"It's all he says," his mother said by way of apology. "But he only says it when he's happy. Clams right up when he's mad. Like his father."

The girl smiled as the crowd around her eventually dispersed to do whatever it was otters did with their spare time. Finally, she was able to make her way to the king.

"Well then," he boomed. "How was your dinner?"

"Simply marvelous," she said. "I've never had anything like it."

"Abel will be glad to hear it. Doesn't get to do much cooking, you see. Otters don't take much for cooked food, but he's always been an odd sort. Loves to have guests so he can try out his recipes. You must have caught him on a good day."

"Oh yes. You must tell him how much I enjoyed it."

"I'll do that. Now, as I recall you wanted to ask a few questions of me. Would you mind if we did so in my chambers? I've a feeling that some of your questions are not be answered in a public hall."