Garrick Tavis

Garrick Tavis's loyalty lies with Xaden Riorson, shaped by their shared experiences as rebellion children marked by the shadow. This commitment is not blind adoration but is described by Yarros as more resilient and more perilous—so ingrained that Garrick finds it difficult to determine when it should be withdrawn, especially as Xaden's dark-power corruption escalates throughout Onyx Storm.

Garrick's relationship with Violet evolves from initial caution to a genuine alliance by Onyx Storm. As she demonstrates her capabilities in battle and gains Xaden's trust, Garrick becomes one of the few who candidly discusses the dangers posed by Xaden—implicitly viewing her as the only potential intervention in Xaden's decline, a burden neither fully acknowledges.

The available information indicates that Garrick has a combat signet that makes him a significant threat in the field during Onyx Storm's dangerous missions, but its exact nature remains unspecified. Beyond sheer combat skill, Yarros highlights that his real contribution to the squad is more nuanced—he embodies the collective memory of the rebellion's surviving children and serves as the stabilizing force others depend on in stressful situations.

Garrick's main conflict is reconciling his unwavering loyalty to Xaden with the growing evidence that Xaden is succumbing to dark-power corruption. He understands moral compromise well, but Yarros prompts him to confront the distinction between tactical darkness and the unsettling transformation he observes—without the option of a tidy resolution, blurring the lines between his steadfastness and complicity.

Sgaeyl acts as a living indicator that Garrick observes closely in Onyx Storm. As Xaden's corruption intensifies, Garrick pays attention to Sgaeyl's increasing distress, interpreting the dragon's agitation as validation of his darkest fears. Moments where he focuses on Sgaeyl's behavior instead of disregarding it reveal a man deliberately compiling evidence he is reluctant to confront.

Garrick's relationship with Cat introduces significant tension in Onyx Storm, complicated by shared loyalties and the instability her presence creates. Their interactions add pressure to an already strained squad dealing with Xaden's decline and the intensifying venin threat, making Cat's presence a crucial challenge that tests the group's unity during a particularly vulnerable period.

Garrick's arc concludes on an uncertain, foreboding note. His steadfastness faces profound challenges as the true cost of the war becomes apparent, yet Yarros provides neither him nor the reader with a clear resolution. He remains in a state of moral ambiguity, his loyalty preserved yet no longer simple, positioned on the brink of a reckoning that remains unaddressed in the narrative.

Garrick serves as a grounding presence for the squad due to his sardonic pragmatism, which cuts through emotional and political distractions: he is the character most likely to identify the practical issues overlooked by others caught up in emotional debates. In a story filled with dramatic power struggles and romantic turmoil, his straightforward honesty and deep historical understanding of the rebellion make him the stabilizing component the inner circle relies on—even as his resilience quietly deteriorates under the burden of his experiences.