The Companions of the Heart (spoilers LST)

[Farseer]

Davad and Ronica discuss this change in the role for the Companion of the Heart in Ship of Magic, Chapter Eighteen, 'Malta'. Speaking first of Malta's dressing up like a tramp going to the Harvest Ball:

'One of the Satrap’s, uh, Companions appeared thus. Uh, in the guise of a, uh, street woman. Not at a public function, but at a very large private gathering. To proclaim her, shall we say, complete devotion to the Satrap and his needs. That she was willing to, well, to be seen and treated as his, well…’

... ...

Grandmother only shook her head angrily. ‘This is what our Satrap has come to. He breaks the promises of his grandfather and father, and reduces the Companions of his Heart to whores for his bodily pleasures. Time was when a family was proud to have one of their daughters named as a Companion, for it was a post that demanded wisdom and diplomacy. What are they now? His seraglio? It disgusts me.