The Companions of the Heart (spoilers LST)

[Albertosaurus Rex]

I might be a little dim here, but the precise definition of the Companions of the Heart from The Liveship Traders is unclear to me. What I seem remember from the books is this:

- They serve the satrap of Jamailia directly
- There are six of them
- They are always female
- They are not wives or concubines; Cosgo's father never slept with Serilla and it was remarked that Cosgo himself treated them like common whores
- They hold advisory or administrative functions

So what are they precisely... some kind of celibate concubine/state functionary hybrid?

[Farseer]

So what are they precisely... some kind of celibate concubine/state functionary hybrid?

This sounds about right if we delete the 'celebate' aspect for Cosgo!

What a terrific and interesting question, AR! Possibly the title and role is founded way back in the Satrap's apparent direct connection to Sa? 'Of the heart' certainly suggests a rather deep and connective relationship?

Will have to think on this some but looking forward to everyone's ideas!

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For the sake of adding to the discussion, here's the Companion of the Heart link from the wiki.

[assasin]

As far as I know they're advisors. Specialising in varied fields. Like whatshername specialising in bingtown. or that other one with a surprising amount of knowledge of chalced.

[Albertosaurus Rex]

If that is so, then Cosgo must have severely hurt Jamailia by making girls like Kekki, who didn't seem to have much of a brain, into Companions. One has to wonder why he did it, if he's not supposed to sleep with them.

Theory 1: He's like Silvio Berlusconi: he rewards his "ladyfriends" with political functions, whether they're qualified or not.
Theory 2: It is in fact permissable for the satrap to have sex with his Companions, it just isn't supposed to happen very often.

"'Of the heart' certainly suggests a rather deep and connective relationship?" Just so, that's why I find it very hard not to think of them as concubines. They do seem to be more than just advisors, otherwise why would to be always female?

[joost]

whatshername

Serilla

[Farseer]

My husband is currently reading The Mad Ship (I can't tell you how exciting it is to know that he is not only reading it but also enjoying it!) and is away for a couple of days so I can't reference anything but I am fairly certain that Serilla made only a single vow to become a Companion of the Heart and this had to do with advising the Satrap only...that if he should ask his Heart Companion for advice on her specific area of expertise, eg Bingtown in Serilla's case, she could not turn aside from him. Other than that, the Satrap had no other hold over his Companion of the Heart, be it physical or otherwise. I also think I am correct in saying that Esclepius chose Serilla as his CotH based on her extensive knowledge of the north, which included the Bingtown region.

I guess 'of the heart' may simply be a slant on having someone's best interest at heart? Joined by the same goals? That in giving the Satrap advice, the Companion has the Satrap's rule and the realm's best interest as the only agendas for the advice given?

It is interesting to note that Esclepius was a follower of the "religion of the White Prophets" and no doubt this made him consider his obligations as a ruler in a different light than Cosgo (who lived during a time when WPs etc were condemned by the priests of Sa). Despite changing somewhat for the better by the end of the LST, Cosgo's earlier behaviours were fine examples of the increasing debasement of the realm as it became all the more divided. Over the course of the books we are seeing everything working toward unity once more (EDIT: In line with the first of the Thirty-Three Contradictions of Sa: Only in Union is there Continuity) and so may also see Cosgo return to the full 'correctness' of the roles between himself and his future Companions.

Possibly it is a balancing or a mirroring of the facets of Sa to have female Companions advise a male Satrap. As the Satrapa Malowda was without a Companion of any kind (as far as I can determine?), this is difficult to confirm. I will have to look out for mention of any male CotH for her during my LST re-read unless someone else can shed some light on it?

All very interesting, particularly when I have to wonder if there is not something here that maybe reflects the rule from back in the time of the Old Empire eg a 'heart' relationship between a male, a female and a serpent or dragon-like being/Elderling (?) as representatives/the embodiment of Sa within the world...or something!

[assasin]

If that is so, then Cosgo must have severely hurt Jamailia by making girls like Kekki, who didn't seem to have much of a brain, into Companions. One has to wonder why he did it, if he's not supposed to sleep with them.

She's his chalced expert right. Becuase she seems really inteliegent when she's not stoned. She obviously has a fine grasp of their culture and stuff. The problem is that the satrap drugs them to the point of uselessness.

[Albertosaurus Rex]

I had forgotten about that. It's been a while since I last read the books.

[Farseer]

I can't say that I forgot as I never got anything from Kekki other than that she was there for purely ornamental and physical reasons. I know she helped Malta regarding the Chalcedean ships at one point but, other than that, I wasn't aware of her expertise in the field of Chalced. As for being drugged and therefore unwillingly acting under Cosgo's influence, I hadn't a clue.

I must admit that, in my eagerness to get back to Amber and Paragon, I tended to gloss over her parts within the plot even during my re-reads. Thanks for pointing that out, assasin - I will have to pay special attention to Kekki the next time I come across her!

[assasin]

I can't say that I forgot as I never got anything from Kekki other than that she was there for purely ornamental and physical reasons. I know she helped Malta regarding the Chalcedean ships at one point but, other than that, I wasn't aware of her expertise in the field of Chalced. As for being drugged and therefore unwillingly acting under Cosgo's influence, I hadn't a clue

First of all, I never said she wasnt willing to be stoned. Maybe I wasnt that clear.

Secondly I was atlking about her helping malta. After a couple of rereads I got a hint of the force of her personality without the drugs. When she was instructing malta.

And I also got the sense of her knowledge in her suggestion of the bloody rag. It doesnt seem to be common knowledge and such small knowledge as that would be [in my opinion] very important when dealing with a chaledan ambassador. Not the adversion to the blood, but similar small knowledge of customs. a real life example would be serving pork to a muslim diplomat. A very bad move.