Some of you, especially my sister and brother Cupids, have been asking about the procedures that a Guardian follows.  Well, I will tell you that it is quite different, and I am sure when I start my work—soon, I hope!—it will take me some getting used to.

For a Cupid, it is a mark of status to have many charges.  I was honored for being able to keep up with five or even six couples at a time.  For a Guardian, however, the opposite is true.  The young ones are given low-risk tasks, and so it is easy to have several.  But as the danger increases, a charge needs more and more of one’s attention, so for a Guardian to have too many such charges at once puts both angel and charge at risk.  Orison tells me that he has two charges, and that was against the advice of his seniors.  Of course, he seems to be managing well enough.

In addition to the individual charges, Guardians will go out on patrol to stop violence where they find it.  I thought that this was an occasional thing, but Orison tells me that all of them—all of us, rather—do it, whenever we have a moment of peace.  So few humans are at such risk that they need the attention of their own Guardian, but all of them face danger and violence in their lives.

“There are not enough of us,” Orison said, “but we do what we can.”

My case is unique, he says—as if anyone needed to remind me of that!  Rather than watch for other angels first, then take on several of my own small charges, I will spend most of my time on patrol, at least at first.  I will have Freya, of course, but Orison tells me that she is a special case and will not take up much of my time.  I am glad, to be honest; not even to spend time with her would I wish for her to be in danger. 

Once I am comfortable with the ways of Guardians, I will be given other charges, but it may take some time.  That is all right.  I am in a hurry to get back to work and back to Freya, but not to immerse myself in the fight.  I want to learn well and learn right, first, and only enter the battle when I will not be a liability to my brothers.

My training is going well.  I continue to have lessons with Rumael, and while I think I will never be good at physicality, at least I can now move small things almost at will.  In my other lessons Orison is pleased with me, although I still struggle with hardening my heart.  I almost wonder if this is a skill I will need.  I am not afraid of pain, and I am willing to feel it if it means I can protect those who are under my care. That is what is most important.