| Name | Garrick Tavis |
|---|---|
| Age | 23 (Fourth Wing, Iron Flame) |
| Species | Human |
| Status | Alive |
| Quadrant | Riders Quadrant, Basgiath War College |
| Rank/Title | Former Flame Section Leader, Fourth Wing; later Second Lieutenant |
| Signet | Air Wielding; Distance Wielding |
| Eye Color | Hazel |
| Hair Color | Dark |
| Dragon Bond | Chradh (Brown Scorpiontail) |
| Family | Father served as Fen Riorson’s aide |
| Love Interest | Imogen Cardulo (alluded) |
| Allegiances | Tyrrish marked ones; Second Rebellion; Xaden Riorson |
| Appears in | Fourth Wing (2023), Iron Flame (2023), Onyx Storm (2025) |
Biography
Before Basgiath
Garrick Tavis grew up close to Xaden Riorson. His father served as Fen Riorson’s aide, which placed Garrick near Riorson House long before the events of Fourth Wing. Xaden later describes Garrick as his version of Dain — except trustworthy — which says a lot about the depth of their bond.
Before the Apostasy, Garrick spent summers at Riorson House and knew the fortress almost as well as Xaden. After the Tyrrish Rebellion failed, Garrick became one of the marked children forced to bear the rebellion relic for their parents’ involvement. Like the other children of the separatist leaders, he was punished for a war he did not start.
As part of the deal that sent the marked ones into the Riders Quadrant, Garrick was conscripted into Basgiath War College. He and Xaden were among the first marked ones to survive the quadrant under Navarre’s suspicion, prejudice, and constant pressure. During Threshing, Garrick bonded with Chradh, a brown Scorpiontail dragon.
Garrick and Xaden also became part of the secret network smuggling weapons to help the gryphon fliers. Their loyalty to the rebellion began long before Violet Sorrengail learned the truth about venin, wyvern, and Navarre’s lies.
Fourth Wing
In Fourth Wing, Garrick is a third-year rider and Flame Section Leader in Fourth Wing. He serves directly under Xaden and is one of the most respected fighters among the marked ones. His leadership style is blunt, practical, and mission-focused. He is not interested in comforting cadets, but he does care whether they survive.
Garrick is present at the secret meetings of the marked ones near the Iakobos River, where the older marked riders discuss how to help the younger cadets survive. When Imogen argues that Violet should suffer for Lilith Sorrengail’s role in the execution of their parents, Garrick pushes back. He points out that blaming Violet for her mother’s actions would make them no better than Navarre, which punished them for their parents’ rebellion.
Throughout the year, Garrick acts as one of Xaden’s closest allies. He trains younger marked ones, helps oversee his section, and supports Xaden’s decisions even when the stakes are high. He also notices Xaden’s feelings for Violet early and teases him about them, showing the humor behind his otherwise serious exterior.
At Athebyne, Garrick is part of the group that discovers the outpost has been abandoned and that Colonel Aetos has set a trap. When Xaden chooses to protect Resson rather than abandon civilians to venin, Garrick stays with him. His loyalty is clear: he trusts Xaden’s leadership, but he also chooses the fight for himself.
During the battle, Garrick fights alongside the others against venin and wyvern. Chradh’s sensitivity to runes helps the group locate the lure box hidden beneath the ruins, proving that Garrick and his dragon are valuable beyond raw combat strength.
Iron Flame
After the Battle of Resson, Garrick returns to Basgiath with Xaden, Violet, Bodhi, Imogen, Eya, Ciaran, and Masen. Because the group had been presumed dead, their return immediately complicates Navarre’s version of events.
After graduation, Garrick and Xaden are stationed at Samara Outpost, where they continue helping the rebellion while serving under Navarre’s command. Garrick remains one of Xaden’s closest confidants and continues to support the weapon-smuggling operation to aid the fliers.
When Violet is tortured at Basgiath, Garrick helps Xaden return to rescue her. After the truth is revealed to the cadets, Garrick helps manage the chaos as riders and cadets choose whether to stay with Navarre or leave for Aretia.
In Aretia, Garrick becomes a commissioned rider and continues serving the rebellion. He takes part in missions, helps defend their people, and remains one of the fighters Xaden trusts most. His connection with Imogen also becomes more noticeable, with their sharp banter hinting at tension beneath the surface.
Onyx Storm
In Onyx Storm, Garrick’s role becomes more complicated after Xaden draws power from the earth and begins struggling with venin influence. Garrick, Bodhi, and Imogen help watch over Xaden, not because they stop trusting him entirely, but because they understand the danger of what he has become.
This creates tension between Garrick and Xaden. Garrick remains loyal, but he is no longer only following his best friend’s lead. He has to protect Xaden, protect the others from Xaden if necessary, and still keep the rebellion moving forward.
Garrick continues fighting in the rebellion’s efforts and proves himself as one of the group’s most dependable combatants. His air wielding and distance wielding make him especially dangerous, allowing him to move, strike, and reposition in ways most riders cannot.
His relationship with Imogen also receives more attention. Their exchanges are still full of teasing and arguments, but the tension between them becomes harder to ignore. Their dynamic suggests a deeper connection, even if neither of them openly defines it.
Physical Description
Garrick is described as tall, broad, pale-skinned, and heavily muscled. Violet first notices him as a large, dark-haired rider whose shoulders take up far more space than the average first-year. Compared to Xaden, Garrick is wider and more densely packed with muscle.
He has dark curly hair and hazel eyes. During the battle at Athebyne, he gains a six-inch scar running from his temple to his jaw, adding to his already intimidating appearance.
Garrick usually wears the black uniform of a rider. His uniform carries several patches showing his rank and his skill with different weapons. He is often associated with the double swords strapped across his back, reinforcing his reputation as one of the best fighters among the marked ones.
His rebellion relic is also notable. It extends up to his shoulder and is considered one of the largest among the marked riders, second only to Xaden’s.
Personality
Garrick’s leadership style is practical, blunt, and mission-first. He does not soften danger for younger cadets, but he does take survival seriously. When the marked first-years struggle, he is willing to help train them, showing that his rough exterior does not mean he is careless.
He is also one of the more rational marked ones when it comes to Violet. While he has every reason to hate Lilith Sorrengail, he does not believe Violet should be punished for her mother’s actions. This makes him an important contrast to characters who initially want revenge without separating Violet from what Navarre did to them.
Garrick is fiercely loyal, especially to Xaden. He follows him into dangerous missions, challenges him when necessary, and remains one of the few people Xaden fully trusts. Their friendship is built on shared history, survival, rebellion, and mutual respect.
Despite his serious presence, Garrick has a sharp sense of humor. He teases Xaden about Violet, jokes in tense situations, and often uses sarcasm to cut through pressure. His banter with Imogen shows a more playful side of him, even when the situation around them is dangerous.
Garrick is not as patient as Imogen, but he is observant, direct, and hard to shake. He is the kind of fighter who does not need the spotlight to matter. His strength is steady, grounded, and usually focused on keeping the people around him alive.
Powers
Lesser Magic
Like all bonded riders, Garrick can channel lesser magic through his bond with Chradh. This allows him to perform basic magical abilities such as unlocking doors without touch, moving with preternatural speed, manipulating mage lights, powering ink pens, and placing runes.
Air Wielding
Garrick’s official signet is air wielding. This gives him control over air and makes him dangerous in combat, especially when combined with his physical strength and skill with weapons.
Distance Wielding
Garrick also has distance wielding, a rare and powerful ability that allows him to cross large distances in seconds. This makes him extremely difficult to predict in battle and gives him a major tactical advantage.
Because distance wielding is not part of Navarre’s official record of his abilities, it also adds to Garrick’s importance within the rebellion. Like several of the marked ones, he is more dangerous than the military fully understands.
Abilities
Rune Detection
Through Chradh’s sensitivity to runes, Garrick can help locate rune-marked objects. This becomes crucial when Chradh detects lure boxes hidden at Athebyne and later near Basgiath.
Fighting
Garrick is one of the strongest fighters among the marked ones. Xaden considers him their best fighter, though Imogen is close behind and more patient as a trainer. Garrick fights with double swords and has earned numerous patches for his skill with a wide range of weapons.
When Garrick and Xaden spar, they are closely matched in strength. Xaden’s speed and second signet give him an advantage, but Garrick remains one of the few people who can meet him directly in a fight.
Relationships
| Xaden Riorson | Garrick is Xaden’s best friend and one of the people he trusts most. Their bond began in childhood, when Garrick’s father served as Fen Riorson’s aide and Garrick spent summers at Riorson House. After the Apostasy, they survived Basgiath together as marked ones and became central figures in the rebellion’s secret operations. Garrick supports Xaden fiercely, but he also challenges him when needed, especially after Xaden begins struggling with venin power. |
|---|---|
| Imogen Cardulo | Garrick and Imogen share a tense, teasing, slow-burn dynamic. Their relationship is marked by arguments, banter, and obvious chemistry. They often fight alongside each other and are both trusted within Xaden’s inner circle. While neither openly defines the relationship, their interactions in Iron Flame and Onyx Storm strongly suggest mutual attraction. |
| Violet Sorrengail | Garrick does not initially know Violet well, but he refuses to blame her for Lilith Sorrengail’s actions. After Violet becomes tied to Xaden through the dragon bond and later saves the group at Resson, Garrick grows more protective and respectful toward her. He also supports her relationship with Xaden, even teasing Xaden about how obvious his feelings are. |
| Bodhi Durran | Garrick and Bodhi are both part of Xaden’s trusted inner circle. They often work together during the rebellion’s operations and later help monitor Xaden after he draws venin power. Their shared loyalty to Xaden and the rebellion makes them key allies throughout the series. |
Dragon
Chradh
Garrick is bonded to Chradh, a brown Scorpiontail dragon. Chradh is especially sensitive to runes, which allows him to detect rune-marked objects such as the lure boxes hidden by Navarre. This makes Chradh important not only in battle, but also in uncovering the traps and secrets surrounding venin and wyvern attacks.
Together, Garrick and Chradh form one of the strongest rider-dragon pairs among Xaden’s allies. Garrick brings physical strength, combat skill, and rare signets, while Chradh adds raw dragon power and rune sensitivity.
