anything and everything

Isy and Penze

"why a man this time?" Ocean asked his sister, looking at the little boy cradled in his mother's arms.

"I don't know. Why not a boy? You know I can't go to earth without a vessel for very long." Isy was still young and very few worshipers to her name. Because of that she was pretty weak.

"What about the girl with the silver eyes?"

"Penze? I don't know how that happened, actually. I didn't give her those. But Dunstan is different, look. His right eye is brown. His left eye is half brown and half grey. It's even more special." Isy tried to explain her reasoning.

"They're not going to think any man is your vessel." Ocean shook his head. It was a futile hope. "they won't prepare him for your visit."

"I know... But hopefully some day I'll be able to use him. Until then, I like watching my little village."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Penze was a girl born with silver eyes. The first one in generations. They village had been without a priestess for almost 20 years before she was born so, naturally, they were very excited for her.

As a baby penze and her mother stayed in the Lislé most of their time. At the age of 5, her mother no longer stayed with her at all times. She was free to visit whenever she wanted but she could not stay. Penze was entrusted to the care of the maidens.

Maiden's were any women who had not yet touched man. Unmarried girls who wanted to deepen their faith. They were anywhere from young teens to almost in their thirties, so long as they were unmarried.

These maidens would do everything with penze. They bathed her, helped her dress, and watched over her when she prayed. It was an honor to witness the priestess praying.

When penze was young, she was allowed to play with other girls her age for a few hours a week. At 14, she was expected to focus on perfecting her body for use as a vessel.

Bathe twice a day.
Pray 6 times.
Meditate to fortify your mind.
Eat your plate to strengthen your body.
Never lay hands on a man.

That wasn't so hard at first. She was happy to spend time with the maidens. They would gossip with her and teach her simple games when the elders weren't around to scold them. Even the games stopped as she grew.

The island goddess rarely spoke to Penze. She knew it was because she wasn't ready. But sometimes she wished for a friendly voice, even if it was only within her mind.

And then there was Dunstan. At the age of 14, he was assigned to be her night guard. The maidens told her he was a man with a half silver eye. He must be blessed.

Dunstan was not allowed to look at or speak to Penze. However, living on the second floor of the Lislé, Penze could look down at him each night through the holes in her wall where candles sat.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Penze looked down at the boy set to guard her. Truthfully she had no idea what from.

The worst threat in her life had been when a raccoon with the Maddened Mouth disease walked into their village. It was taken care of long before it reached the Lislé. Even if it had gotten here, her door remained locked so long as the sun was down.

Penze traced her hand over one of the many slots in the wall. It was just big enough she believed she could reach her arm out of it if she were to remove the candle. She could look through it quite well.

"What is your name?" Penze asked the boy below her. She was 16. Of age to be used as a vessel. She hoped the Island Goddess would use her soon. That way she would be allowed to walk amongst the rest of her people.