The Curse of Iris

Chapter Two

The early morning sun shone brightly from beneath the curtains of Robyn's bedroom, slowly creeping its way from the carpet floor up onto Robyn's bed and finally into the eyes of the sleeping teenager. He woke up once the bright light reached his eyes. "Morning already?" Robyn asked himself tiredly as he sat up in bed and pushed his blonde hair out of his eyes. "I still can't believe today is the day I become a dragon rider.." Robyn slowly lifted himself out of bed and stood up shakily, before rubbing his eyes which had black circles under it, clearly evident that he hadn't slept.

Robyn hadn't been up for more than 5 minutes when there came a knock on his door. "Come in." he called in an exasperated tone. The double doors covered in peeling white paint to his bedroom opened and two servants entered, and as soon as they made eye contact with him the servants bowed. "My lord," One said, "how did you sleep?"

Robyn sighed, walked past them, and stood over by the window. "Poorly," he said tiredly. Robyn threw open the window to his bedroom, brining in the chilly morning air. *As always,* he thought to himself. Robyn sighed as he brought in the view of Drakenton. Despite his reservations about the day, the city was, as always, beautiful.

"My lord?" the lead servant asked.

"Yes," Robyn answered.

"Your mother requested that you be down for breakfast within the hour, so you may converse with your family before the ceremony."

Robyn sighed, "of course she did. Tell her I'll be down soon." Robyn turned away from the servant and scowled at nothing in particular.

"Yes my lord...." the servant said bowing, slowly walking himself and the other servant out of Robyn's room, the doors shutting loudly. Robyn sighed and covered his face, "Why?....Why do I have to become a Dragon Rider....I ...I don't want this!" Robyn kicked his bedroom wall in frustration.

"Why?" a tear began to flow from Robyns left eye, one he quickly wiped away as he remembered something his father said. "I have to become a Dragon Ryder, for my family's future....I...I have to be strong...and do this even if I don't want to." he sighed before disparagingly looking at the tattoos he had scrawled across his arm, each saying different statements that have inspired Robyn throughout his life, one soon caught his eye "May Goldbird give you strength...." Robyn smiled as he read this, remembering how his mother used to say this after his father or mentor Humbert scolded him for failing at something during his training. Goldbird was a reference to the Sacred Sentinel with the most power, who could take on an army of demons alone. "Maybe that old saying can give me some strength today, I definitely need it," Robyn muttered to himself before then looking up and sighing, "I guess I should get ready I have to ..."

A few minutes later Robyn descended the staircase leading into the dining room, where Robyn's mother, father, and little sister were busy eating breakfast. "Oh, you're up earlier than I thought you would be brother," Robyn's sister said sarcastically. "Good morning to you too Alfild," Robyn said sitting between her and their mother, Alfid sighed before returning to her meal. Robyn smiled mischievously at his little sister's annoyance before one of the servants set a wooden breakfast plate and a cup full of juice in front of him. Robyn was surprised as he saw the plate choked full of eggs, bacon, and sausages. "Wow!" Robyn said, staring at the plate, "That's a lot of meat, I'm surprised we could afford it all...." Robyn's father laughed at this statement.

"Why are you so shocked, my boy?" his father asked, "Today is special after all" "Well....."Robyn said awkwardly looking down at his plate, "It's just we usually can't afford this much meat....only the nobles can."

Robyn's father smiled at him. "My boy....what will you be in a few hours?"

"A dragon rider...."

"And what is a dragon rider?"