Cardenio Richey

Cardenio Richey is a Mélusinian Master cade-skiff, friend of Mildmay, and student of Master Auberon.
== Appearance ==
Mildmay describes Cardenio as having a "shy, mousy face" and at their initial meeting in Mélusine, Cardenio wears the big black hat and long coat of his profession.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 3.” Mélusine, Ace, New York, 2005. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. Mildmay gives him gold ring earrings with jade beads carved like dragons for making journeyman, which Cardenio puts on, and wears throughout the first three volumes.
Felix Harrowgate describes Cardenio as "short and slight", with a mousy, unremarkable face and a thick accent.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 14.” The Virtu, Ace Books, New York, 2007. The Doctrine of Labyrinths.
By the time of The Mirador, Mildmay notes that while he's still small and mild, he's not a mouse anymore, and seems to have steadied.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 10.” The Mirador, Ace Books, New York, 2008. The Doctrine of Labyrinths.
== Personality ==
Mildmay notes that, "Cardenio'd never had much use for himself, and it was weird for him that somebody else did." He likes teasing Mildmay. He also blushes very easily, particularly around Mildmay. Mildmay notes he's a good listener and very shy.
He's kind to animals, and once protected a wild mole until it could go back underground.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 7.” The Virtu, Ace Books, New York, 2007. The Doctrine of Labyrinths.
Felix notes that Cardenio has a pragmatic ruthlessness.
He likes his job a lot.
== Life ==
Cardenio passes the cade-skiff ordeal, swears the oaths, and learns the mysteries of cade-skiffs under Auberon. He makes journeyman shortly before he appears in the story. He tends to hang out with Mildmay on Neuvième and tell Mildmay information and stories.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 4.” Mélusine, Ace, New York, 2005. The Doctrine of Labyrinths.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 4.” The Virtu, Ace Books, New York, 2007. The Doctrine of Labyrinths.
=== Mélusine ===
Mildmay goes to visit Cardenio on Cardenio's half day one Neuvième. They go to talk in Richard's Park, and Cardenio brings up Ginevra Thomson. Mildmay gives Cardenio a gift of earrings for making journeyman. They talk, and then get dinner at the Wheat-Dancer. On their way back to Havelock, Mildmay asks if Cardenio knows about Brinvillier Strych, and Cardenio asks about Mildmay's potential interactions with Vey Coruscant. Cardenio says that the Mirador said they buried Strych in Boneprince, and Cardenio believes they buried him in the Mirador.
After the bodies of Austin Lefevre and Ginevra are pulled from the Sim, Auberon has Cardenio seek out Mildmay on 11 Messidor. Cardenio takes him to the Dead Gallery, where the dead are displayed. While Mildmay looks at the corpses, Cardenio checks in on him to see if he's okay, and offers him tea. Once he gets Mildmay to sit and have some tea, he fetches Auberon to speak with Mildmay. After talking, Mildmay sharply tells Cardenio to stay away and leaves.
After the Kalliphorne helps Mildmay, Mavortion von Heber, and Bernard Heber escape Mélusine, Mildmay tells her to seek out Cardenio if she wants to escape, too.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 6.” Mélusine, Ace, New York, 2005. The Doctrine of Labyrinths.
=== The Virtu ===
The Kalliphorne visits Cardenio in the morgue to report she saw Mildmay being taken out of Mélusine by Malkar Gennadion. When he leaves the morgue, Auberon tells him that Vey Coruscant was murdered. He gets himself indebted to Kolkhis to get a way into the Mirador. She gives him a message for Felix and a letter of introduction to Hugo Chandler, who brings him to Mehitabel Parr, who takes him to Felix, who questions him. He offers his help if Felix needs it before departing back to work.
=== The Mirador ===
A few months before the middle of The Mirador, Cardenio becomes a Master cade-skiff. 
Mildmay goes to Fishmarket with Simon Barrister and Gideon Thraxios to see Cardenio. Mildmay congratulations Cardenio on his Mastership, and asks about Jenny Dawnlight and who she was working for. Cardenio - after getting a promise Simon won't arrest anyone - tells Mildmay that Jenny worked for a necromancer named Augusta Fenris. Due to Simon's interest, afterward, Cardenio takes them all on a tour of the Fishmarket. He and Mildmay chat a little afterward, and part ways warmly.
== Skills ==
Cardenio, like cade-skiffs generally, knows a great deal.
==Relationships==
=== Auberon ===
Cardenio seems to think highly of Auberon.
=== Augusta Fenris ===
Cardenio and Augusta are work acquaintances. He thinks she's half-crazy.
=== Mildmay ===
Mildmay feels very comfortable and unashamed around Cardenio in ways he doesn't around other people. Cardenio cares a lot about Mildmay. Mildmay often dreams of him.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 10.” The Virtu, Ace Books, New York, 2007. The Doctrine of Labyrinths.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 4.” The Mirador, Ace Books, New York, 2008. The Doctrine of Labyrinths.
=== Otto Yarley ===
Cardenio and Otto are work acquaintances.
==Trivia==
* "The History of Cardenio" is a lost play attributed to William Shakespeare.  Cervantes' Don Quixote also features a character called Cardenio, a hermit who was driven mad by his beloved's infidelity.
== References ==
Category:Characters
Category:Mélusine
Category:The Virtu
Category:The Mirador