Cadence Sandoval—a supporting character from the novel. He had no family ties, no home of his own, and no one to protect him. He was also an extremely skilled blade-wielding expert.
The Emperor of Oberon wasn't just a sovereign ruler of an empire, but an obsessive collector. Katil sought to find skilled people who he could use and manipulate to the point of ruin. It was probably why he was so interested in Dylan.
For Katil, Cadence was the perfect puppet. He was a powerless and dependent child who just so happened to have a natural talent with the sword. After discovering Cadence's talent, the Emperor brought him to the Palace and made him into one of his knights.
Katil saw the boy as an object to be exploited and manipulated to his own satisfaction. He even went so far as to cut off Cadence's tongue to prevent him from talking about things the Emperor forced him to do. As a result, Cadence became mute.
Cadence's role in the novel was a minor one. When the Emperor found out about Caspian's crush, Cadence was attached to Grisa like an accessory. He followed her around as her personal knight, but like Dylan, he was ill-fated.
Unable to cope with the trauma induced by the Emperor, Cadence took his own life. His death was briefly mentioned in the story, since the author focused more on highlighting Grisa's tears and sympathetic heart. It was almost as if his death was used for that sole reason.
'How abominable.'
Dylan narrowed her eyes and absently toyed with one of the knight chess pieces. "Is this Cadence a person?"
A sly smile stretched across the Emperor's face. "He's a young man," he told her, crossing his arms over his chest. "He's also an excellent knight."
He treated Cadence as an object, devoid of thought or feeling. Who else would offer a human as a trophy won from a game of chess?
"Very well," she said, setting the knight chess piece down. "I will gratefully accept your gift, Your Majesty."
He smiled, pleased by her response, and then commanded his servants to fetch Cadence Sandoval.
The one thing Dylan desired above all others was freedom. She could inherit the Duchy and use her power to get revenge, but Dylan was adamant that she didn't want to be tied down that way. Revenge wouldn't change her past. In the end, all she wanted was to be free, so she wouldn't let herself be tied down by the Duke's position.
Perhaps that was why she agreed to take Cadence with her. In the end, all he wanted was also freedom. Maybe just maybe she could give him the wings he needed to fly away. As she thought about it with a vexed expression, she heard a knock outside.
"Come in!" the Emperor shouted.
At his command, the man opened the door and entered. He bowed his head mechanically before them.
Emperor Katil leaned back in his chair with a satisfied grin. "This is Cadence," he explained to Dylan. "He's mute, so he cannot speak, but he is extremely competent with a sword."
She felt her heart drop. Just a few feet away, a man who had lost his right to be a normal human being kneeled before the person who dragged him to hell. It was a sick act of submissiveness.
When Dylan didn't respond, he said, "Cadence, rise so she can see you better."
Cadence rose and stared at Dylan blankly. His eyes were two different colours. One was a rich hazel with swooping arcs of green and gold, and the other was a dark green. It wasn't their colours that made Dylan unable to look away. It was the fact that they were ringed with an indescribable sorrow that drew her in.
His wavy light brown hair framed his face and came down just above his chin. He bore a remarkable scar above the left eyebrow. Dylan's gaze followed along his shoulders, down until his cuffs. He had the body of a knight—tall and muscular.
"Let this lady command you," the Emperor said nonchalantly. "Guard her for me from now on."
Cadence's blank expression wavered. His cheeks twitched, and Dylan watched his eyes narrow slightly.
'He's being thrown around like a toy again.'
"I really must take my leave, Your Majesty," said Dylan. "I am thankful for your kindheartedness. I will be sure to repay your generosity."
He chuckled. "It's not for you to repay. You won him, after all."
Dylan felt like throwing up, but her own body wouldn't even let her do that. Dylan curtsied low and said clearly as she straightened, "Your Majesty, thank you for having me. It has truly been a pleasure."
"Come visit me again sometime!" he told her. "I have lots of other games we can play."
Cadence pulled the door open and allowed Dylan through, following behind her. He had guarded many people before for the Emperor, but they all ended up dying by his hands. He wondered if the Emperor would eventually give him the same command for the young lady.
Dylan suddenly stopped walking and turned around to look at Cadence. She turned her face up at him; it was sad, even innocent—the face of a girl who should not be hanging around someone like the Emperor. She was... extremely pretty.
She opened her mouth to say something. Was she going to mock him for being mute like everyone else? Was she going to scream at him?
"You and I," she muttered, "have it pretty bad, huh?"
The words fell from her lips before she could stop them. His eyes narrowed and Dylan was afraid the words had hit their mark. She sighed, turning away from him. Even if they both had it bad, talking about it wouldn't do either one of them any good.
"I wonder if we'll ever be able to get away," she whispered to herself, unaware that he was still listening.
'His eye is green like Grisa's eyes.'
Caspian leaned against the carriage, waiting for her to come. He wanted to see her again, even if it was for just a short moment. The lady for whom the beautiful carriage waited soon came followed by the Emperor's knight.
Caspian gritted his teeth and forced himself to relax. "Dylan," he called as she neared him. "Are you leaving now?"
She nodded without looking up. Something was bothering her. He could tell by the dead look in her eyes.
"Did my father do something to upset you?" he asked her.
"No..." Her quiet voice was whisked away in the wind. Dylan passed him, walking swiftly for the carriage. She didn't feel like talking with anyone right now.
Cadence was following after her, when Caspian stopped him by grabbing his arm.
"Don't you dare touch her with those hands," he whispered between clenched teeth. "You and I both know what atrocities those hands have singlehandedly caused."
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
MEET MY FAVOURITE CHARACTER... CADENCE!