Ascendant by Diana Peterfreund Read Free Book Online Page B

glory—”
    “And they appreciate it,” said Neil. “Which is why they’re looking the other way at some of the more unorthodox policies we adopted. They accept that in this day and age we cannot limit the Order to Catholics or to young women willing to take lifelong vows. But you must expect that they would like to have a say in what happens with their money. Are some skirts and kerchiefs really worth all this fuss?”
    Cory folded her arms across her chest.
    I couldn’t blame her. When she’d first sought to reclaim the Cloisters and gather together a new Order of the Lioness, Cory had put all her trust in Gordian Pharmaceuticals, and for the most part, they’d let her have free rein. But then everything had gone south, and Cory had defended Gordian’s actions longer than anyone. When they took away our archery trainer and left us without weapons, she’d found a way to justify it. When we couldn’t reach Marten and Giovanni told us that the Gordian CEO had been trying to sabotage Phil and me all summer, she hadn’t believed it. I still wasn’t sure how much of Cory’s attitude was due to actual denial and how much was her fear of losing the control their patronage had afforded us.
    After all, today it was “some skirts and kerchiefs.” But what was next?
    As the argument dragged on, I slipped out of the office and out into the courtyard. Father Guillermo was still there, admiring the mosaics and watching as a few of the girls practiced target shooting. Our weapons still lay in a heap all over the walkway, and Bonegrinder panted near an empty water bowl. I shook my head, refilled her bowl, and went back to cleaning my sword. After a few more swipes with the polishing rag, I could actually read the inscription.
    DOMITARE UNICORNE INDOMITUM
     
    Where was Giovanni when you needed him? He’d spent half the summer reading Latin transcriptions on ruins and artwork. He’d be able to translate this for me with no problem. Well, the “unicorn” part was pretty obvious, at least.
    “Are you Astrid Llewelyn?” said a voice above my head. I looked up at Father Guillermo.
    “Yes.” I wiped polish from my palms on my new camouflage skirt, then stuck out my hand. He grimaced. Oops.
    “I have heard that you are particularly blessed,” he went on.
    “You heard wrong.” I inclined my head toward Grace, who was currently kicking butt at target practice. “She’s above and beyond the best here. And the most dedicated as well.”
    “Modesty is a very noble trait, Señorita.”
    “You’re not Italian, are you?” I asked.
    “No. At the Vatican, priests come from all over Christendom. I am from Peru. We have no unicorns there.”
    I decided instantly that Peru was where I wanted to live when I grew up. “I’m serious, though. It’s a false rumor, about the Llewelyns. At least it is with me. I’m certainly not the best hunter here. Grace has killed way more than me.”
    “I see.” Father Guillermo said, smiling slightly. “My family does not believe that I have lived up to the potential of our name, either. They are all businessmen. I became a priest. And not a parish priest but a policy maker. I am in business for my God.”
    Okay, then. I nodded and returned to my sword, and the priest spoke to the back of my head.
    “You see, Señorita Llewelyn, sometimes what our family thinks we should be good at is correct. But not in the way they think.”
    I turned to look up at him, but he was still giving me that same impenetrable smile. Did he somehow know about my tête-à-têtes with the karkadann? But how could he? I doubted Phil or Neil would have told him something like that. It made us sound nuts.
    Then again, Father Guillermo wasn’t one of the wildlife or biology experts Phil was contacting for help. He was a Church official. He believed we had magic powers—that our gifts were from God. Saint Joan of Arc had been a warrior who experienced divine visions—why should a member of the Order of the Lioness