The high perch was an open landing toward the upper portion of the tower. The floor wasn't stone like they were used to instead, it was wooden and ringed like the perch had been built on an old tree stump. There weren't any walls or safety rails just the vail swirling in the distance.
The high perch was always Aldric's favorite place the tables were large and beautiful. Each was carved from a different type of wood and decorated with brass or bronze accents and accessories. The falcons table was mahogany with brass rivets lining the rim of the top. The benches were cushioned with green satin seats and stitched with silver thread.
The wrens table was poppy and accented with brass rings interlocked all around the top. Their benches weren't cushioned, but each of them brought small pillows to rest their hind ends on.
The ravens table was ebony and the only table accented in silver. The top of the table bore the only decoration which was a single feather carved into the grain and filled with molten silver. Their benches were topped with purple cushions with black stitching and had golden frills on the corners.
When Aldric made his way to the high perch he heard the conversations in the room fade to nothingness. The eyes of every table felt like they were on him and he slowly made his way to the dark black table with his flock mates.
When he reached the table he approached Jasper first who had been sitting beside Rhys' empty seat. When he attempted to fill the vacant space, Jasper scooched over aggressively, blocking the seat.
"Taken," he croaked, avoiding eye contact altogether. Aldric went to respond but found it futile. He shrugged and made his way to the other empty space beside Harden who didn't seem to mind him approaching at all.
"Is this one taken too then?" Aldric asked. Harden was ripping chunks from his chicken leg, getting grease all over his tunic. He grunted and burped softly before scooting over. Aldric, taking that as an invitation, sat down. When his bottom touched the purple cushion, the other boys stood and left the perch.
Their noses were turned up, and their eyes avoided his. He sighed deeply, and dropped his head a little.
"I didn't mean to," he whispered to himself.
"Meh, bozo had it comin," Harden said through a stuffed mouth. Chunks of potato and chicken flew across the table as he reached for another bread roll.
"Nobody deserves that," Aldric insisted.
"Don't be so sure. In matters of life and death thinking quickly can really save your life. After all, he was kicking you in the stomach," Harden reassured him.
"In the books I've read, it says a hard enough hit to the stomach can cause severe injury and even death. So, far as I'm concerned, you did exactly what was expected," he added. Aldric scratched his scalp and pecked at his cold chicken before losing his appetite.
"How'd your summons go?" The boy asked, shoveling some apple crumble into his mouth.
"It was- not what I expected," he said, remembering the odd praise he had received.
"So you didn't get in trouble then? Good, just like I said you didn't do anything wrong," the boy said, smiling gleefully. Aldric was silent again, he appreciated Harden's attempt to make him feel less guilty, and part of him did, but he still felt bad for what he did.
"Should I go see Rhys?" He asked, his voice barely audible.
"Definitely not. I heard that he feels very strongly about you, and I'm not so sure that, that meeting would go the way you expect either. Even with a broken leg, in the infirmary he has access to all kind of stuff. I'd leave it be until things quiet down," Harden advised. Aldric didn't much care for that response, but he knew it was probably the truth.
"You're right. Ill give him time before trying to apologize," Aldric suggested.
"Apologize? For him being a jerk? That's an odd thing to be sorry for," Harden said, a judgemental look painting his pale face.
"Not for that! Because of the leg,"
"If he hadn't been a jerk and started kicking you, his leg wouldn't be broken. So again, it's odd to apologize for someone else's bitter attitude," he shrugged, and took another chunk of chicken.
Supper was always the best meal of the day. From the perch the sunset was magnificent. The orange and pink colors of the sky rippled across the room like a majestic oceans waves in the light. The clouds grew fluffy and pink like cotton candy, and the islands below were painted like a mosaic.
Aldric hated that he was the reason the others missed the sunset, but he was happy to be with someone he saw as a friend.
"Thanks," Aldric said.
"What for?"
"You stayed, even when everyone else left. And you made me feel better," he explained.
"Of course I didn't leave. You expect me to miss most of my meal and the sunset, and for what? Because you broke a jerks leg for beating on you?" Harden asked sarcastically.
"Be a really stupid thing to do if you ask me," he added, finally putting his spoon down.
"Still, thank you anyway," Harden looked at Aldric for what seemed like the first time. His eyes were a vibrant orange then and filled with a fire that Aldric couldn't place.
"No problem. I am done now though, so I will be heading back, but you should eat something. You used a lot of energy today, we were all sort of surprised you didn't faint again," he replied, and made his way back down to their dorm.
Aldric gazed at his meal and shoved the plate aside. Though he hadn't eaten hardly anything, he still felt energized from his rejuvenation and didn't have much of an appetite.
Still, he stayed seated at his flocks table until the others were gone, and the sky was black. The crackling lightning within the vail shone in scattered flashes across his face as he overlooked the valley.
The stars above reflected in the water below as he peered over the edge. He breathed deeply and finally, a single tear rolled down his cheek.
"I'm sorry," he sniffled.