Who is Lily Fong from The Fifth Sacred Thing and what is their importance?

Lily Fong is one of Las Cuatro Viejas, the Four Old Women who sparked the rebellion of 2028 against the Stewards, a rebellion that eventually led to the establishment of the City. Lily is a member of the Defense Council. The City's "defense," the Defense Council is comprised of the City's old women, a way to counter the traditional patriarchal idea of "defense" as the prerogative of men.