The Water-Boy's Name

aka the name on the muster-pit wall

A name scratched into the muster-pit wall of the Weeping Adit by a dying conscript — the boy the paymaster's lost book recorded only as 'the boy who carried water', giving himself back the name the House never entered.

Low on the muster-pit wall, under the waterline mark, someone knelt in the dark and cut letters with a belt-buckle tongue while the gallery filled. The hand is a boy's, unpractised, pressing too hard. 'They rote me down as the water boy. That is not my name. My name is EDRIN OSK of Cutter's Row and my father was a caulker and I filled skins for the whole company and never was payd and if the House will not say my name then I will cut it my self where the water cannot reach.' The water reached. But the cut is above the mark, and the name held. Below it, a smaller line, later, colder: 'Say it for me. Somebody say it.' Carry EDRIN OSK to Mourner Ithal. That is the whole of what he wanted.

This world ships in Valenfeld. Play the game →