Another month passed. Lyni was now sixteen and had the small ceremony to mark her adulthood. But there was also the constant reality of her difference.
Two days after the ceremony Lyni was called for. She was to present herself to Mother Talzin. Ventress came for her. The girl clung to Feral in a final hug before she went to and entered the speeder.
Sitting straight in the seat she waited for further orders from Ventress. But the entire ride to the Temple was silent. When they stopped before the steps they found Mother Talzin waiting, and Lyni received orders to stand before the older woman. The girl quickly followed them, standing straight with her hands folded behind her and her eyes lowered.
Suddenly there was a hand under her chin and she felt her head being pulled up so her face could be seen. Mother Talzin then moved her head side to side studying her. Lyni still avoided looking Mother Talzin in the eye. "Your name," Mother Talzin demanded.
"Lyni." responded with a quiet voice.
Talzin continued, "You were the girl with a skin condition as well as a disease of the mind." Looking at her, "Tell me, if there were two Jedi coming what would you do?"
Lyni swallowed, "What Savage told me to do." Bracing herself, "Hide in the house until either he or Feral came for me."
There were noises of discontent from the sisters around them. However Mother Talzin continued, "Why is that?"
"They are my brothers, my Kin." The girl looked up for the first time, "We look out for each other."
Talzin nodded in acceptance of that, "Tell me, when I decreed your death how did you survive?"
A deep calming breath, "My Uncle took me to the village and gave me to his closest friend." Starting to see the anger as she continued, "I was raised by that friend." Trying to protect the others, "Savage and Feral have cared for me for that friend's sake."
The older woman's anger was now obvious, "Where is the friend that took you in?"
"I do not know," resisting the urge to step back from the look of anger. "The sister took him away." That was true at least.
A contented smile broke over Talzin's face, "Then he will soon be dead if he is not already." A nod, "Otherwise Savage would have had to be set on him." Turning to the other sisters, "We need more life water. Prepare this girl as bait."
With that Talzin walked away, leaving Lyni at the mercy of the other sisters. Silently Lyni called for her brothers. But part of her knew that they would not come even as unconsciousness took her.