I'm working with trying to convert an older theme and set up a WordPress site for a group and I'm having a horrible time trying to get a custom category-like taxonomy to work.

Code:
    <div id="cat-<?php echo $i; ?>" class="category">
        <?php query_posts( array( 'posts_per_page' => 1, 'post_type' => 'emote', "section" => $category )) ?>
        <span class="cat_title"><a href="<?php echo get_category_link($category);?>"><?php echo $category->name; ?></a></span>
        <a href="<?php echo get_category_link($category);?>"><?php echo term_description($category, "section"); ?></a>
    </div>
In the above example, I tried to get the custom taxonomy ($category) to display the taxonomy's name ($category->name) but nothing displays.

I also have no idea how to replace get_category_link(). I have tried using get_term_link, but it returns a WP fatal error that doesn't make any sense.

I can't find ANYTHING in WordPress's documentation or on Google that will help me accomplish either of these two tasks.

Any help would be much appreciated!