Summary: How Athos and Savron came to be paired.
Pre-series
"Dragon Rider"
Athos sat atop his horse at the base of a hillock the road wound around on its way to the Comte de Roanne's estate. Behind him, several horses nickered and snuffled as the Musketeer regiment stood waiting.
A shadow swept overhead, and a few of the steeds fidgeted, but they were trained not to startle at dragons.
Aramis and his green dragon landed on the other side of the road where Treville and the rest of the dragon riders were assembled.
"There's a militia camped on the south end of the grounds, twice the number one comte is allowed to possess," he reported. "And our previous intel said he had four dragons, but it looks like he's currently taking possession of two more at this moment."
The Comte de Roanne was definitely amassing more power than one landowner was allotted. Coupled with the rumors that he was colluding with Flanders, it was time for the Crown to intervene.
"We move in now," Treville ordered, seated atop his dragon. "Dragon riders, with me to cut off the militia. Athos, lead the troop on the ground through the front gate."
Athos nodded and kicked his horse into a canter. The rest of the men on horseback followed as those on dragons took to the skies.
The Comte de Roanne was out front with the dragon trader and the two beasts he had just purchased, all of whom were stunned when an entire troop of musketeers came charging onto the estate.
"Comte de Roanne," Athos said as he pulled his horse up and dismounted. "You are under arrest."
The man sputtered indignantly. "I beg your pardon. On what authority do you think to come onto my land—"
"We are the King's Musketeers," Athos replied blandly. "And you are in violation of at least two statutes of which the proof is standing right in front of us." He nodded to the dragons.
Screeches and gunfire erupted from the back of the manor as the dragon riders engaged the militia.
Athos drew his sword and leveled it at de Roanne. "And that would be the evidence for the second violation."
The gray dragon began to shift nervously, but the blue silverback next to it gave it a light chuff, and it settled down for the moment.
De Roanne drew himself up. "I don't know what you think this is, but I've just purchased these dragons as a gift for the King."
"Is that so?" Athos replied dryly. "Well, the Crown will be confiscating them regardless." He nodded to a handful of musketeers. "Search the house."
De Roanne's cheeks puffed with outrage, and sounds of fighting continued to echo from the back of the manor. But it wasn't long before Treville made his way around the house with the steady pace of one who just emerged the victor.
"Your men have surrendered, de Roanne," he told the comte. "And your dragons have been secured. You are hereby under arrest for violations against the French Crown." Treville glanced at the two dragons, then at Athos. "Everything all right here?"
Athos nodded.
"Captain!" Etienne called, emerging from the house with a stack of papers in hand. "We found these—evidence the Comte de Roanne is plotting a rebellion with backing from Flanders."
"The Cardinal will want to see those," Treville replied.
The Comte's eyes were wild now as he realized he was done for. And desperate men were prone to desperate moves, which Athos should have seen coming. De Roanne grabbed a pistol off a musketeer's belt, but instead of shooting one of them—which wouldn't have gotten him anywhere—he fired at the gray dragon. The pistol wasn't loaded with acimite, but the dragon was already on edge in the new surroundings in the middle of a mass assault, and getting shot at was the final straw.
The dragon screeched and launched into a frenzy, spinning around and snapping its jaws at anyone within reach. The musketeers scrambled away from it as Treville bellowed for his dragon, Kilgar. De Roanne used the distraction to leap onto a Musketeer horse and go galloping off.
Athos didn't think; he spun toward the second dragon, the blue silverback that was backing away from the incensed gray dragon. He sprinted over and swung up onto its back. "After him!"
The dragon blinked at him dubiously for a split second before it flapped its wings and gave chase. They caught up with de Roanne in a matter of minutes, and the blue silverback went gliding just above the ground and plucked the comte right out of the saddle. He then plopped the man on the ground before landing.
Athos dismounted, his drawn sword still in hand, and went to stand over the blithering comte. "Now we can add fleeing arrest and attempted maiming of musketeers to the long list of charges."
He retrieved some rope from the horse's saddlebag and used it to bind the comte's hands. Athos tied the other end to the pommel of the saddle and swung up onto the horse to haul de Roanne back to the estate on foot.
The blue dragon fell into a waddling pace behind him.
By the time they returned, Kilgar had corralled the gray dragon and it was currently being fettered.
Treville strode over when he spotted Athos, expression briefly stunned. "Good work," he said.
Athos slid out of the saddle and passed the comte off to some other musketeers.
Treville cast a wary glance at the blue silverback.
"That one doesn't need restraints," Athos said.
The captain looked doubtful but didn't order the dragon to be fettered like the other one.
Aramis and Porthos made their way over, now that most of the work had been done.
"I heard you rode a dragon," Aramis commented, casting a curious look past Athos at the blue silverback.
Athos shrugged. "It seemed the most expedient course of action."
"That one ain't even wearin' a saddle," Porthos said incredulously. "No anchor line! You're mad."
"We didn't have to go very far or high," Athos pointed out.
Porthos just shook his head at him, grumbling about how that was something he'd expect from Aramis.
"I take that as a compliment!" Aramis called after him, grinning.
With the arrests made and the comte's dragons secured for transport, the Musketeers began the long, slow procession back to Paris where the men were delivered to the Chatelet and the dragons to Bonacieux.
A few weeks later at morning muster, Treville called for Athos to step forward. Athos held himself stiffly as he did so, not knowing what this was about. He was fairly certain he hadn't done anything deserving of reprimand, and the captain wasn't into public humiliation anyway. Then Treville pulled out a silver pin in the silhouette of a dragon.
"I hereby promote you to rank of dragon rider," he said, pinning the insignia to Athos's jacket. "Congratulations."
A round of applause went up. Athos inclined his head in gratitude.
"Head on over to the dragon compound," Treville told him. "Bonacieux is expecting you."
Athos glanced back at Aramis and Porthos before heading next door to the royal dragon compound.
"Congratulations," Bonacieux told him as he led Athos down the length of the dragon dens. "I have a couple dragons for you to choose from."
Athos's gaze caught sight of the blue silverback from the de Roanne estate, and he pulled up short outside its pen. The dragon lifted its head and gazed back at him steadily.
Bonacieux stopped and turned around. "Oh, Savron is still too new to be paired with a rider yet."
"That's his name?" Athos asked, not taking his eyes from the dragon's unwavering gaze.
"According to the bill of sale from the Comte de Roanne's estate, yes."
The dragon dipped its head just a fraction as though in confirmation.
Athos regarded him for another long moment. "I'll take him."
Bonacieux faltered. "I'm not sure that's the best idea… There are more experienced dragons in the compound."
Athos shook his head. "Savron and I have already flown together. I'll take him."
Bonacieux pursed his mouth, but while he may have been the royal dragon keeper, Athos had made up his mind.
"Very well," the man finally relented and opened the gate to the den.
Savron rose and slid out like a cat, coming around to regard Athos with the same measure of calm consideration as the musketeer had been giving him.
Athos nodded. They would be a good fit.