and some by virtue fall; Gallows

[Kushiel]

Kushiel had always been a little wayward. When he was in a more benevolent state, he would sometimes wonder exactly how many years he had taken off his mother’s life. Oh wait, never mind, she was immortal. But still, the fact that she could live forever and had only one shitty son to show for it was a thought that kept him up at night. Kushiel chuckled morosely.

What was he trying to do? Assess his worth? That would lead to nothing but trouble.

This train of thought, while futile, had unburied guilt he pretended not to feel. Gallows had done the best she could with him, and she had contended with very poor starting material. But despite the odds, she had persevered, and had kept him alive long enough for him to abandon her and the home she had made for him.

She should get something in return, like a visit from her adult son.

So it was with a sense of self congratulations that he made is way to the Valley. He hadn’t given this plan much thought beyond the credit it would do him. Surely, people would talk for years to come about Gallows and her sensitive, attentive son.

He hadn’t, for example, considered how angry Gallows surely was. She loved the Valley, and Kushiel hadn’t spared it more than a “see ya later sucker” on his way out. As he neared the entrance to his childhood home, the guardian mountains seemed larger and craggier than ever. He hadn’t been gone that long, yet it already seemed like a lifetime.

Kushiel was not used to being a contributing member of society. The fact that he had taken the initiative to join the ranks of Chamber diplomats was something that still left him speechless. He had accomplished more this past season than he had intended to his whole life.

What was his mom going to say?

Kushiel slunk past the mountains, trying not to think about full grown stallions that still feared their mothers. He tried to tell himself that while those assholes were real tools, he was in a totally different boat.

They didn’t have his mother. It was a completely different situation.

Out of habit, he made his way to the Valley’s gathering spot. He didn't stop to consider that he wouldn’t be welcome. He had still be born here, raised here. The fact that he had left in a puff of bravado and smoke couldn’t change that.

“Ma?” He bawled, once again trying not to think about full grown stallions who still called their mother’s Ma.

“You have to forgive me sometime, might as well be now.

Kushiel

some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall