Handmaiden (Title)

The handpicked servants of the Queen Ascendant, before she ascended, were the Handmaidens of the Queen (or Handmaidens for short). They were chosen for their physical resemblance to the Queen, and then underwent painful reconstructive magic and surgery (and a harsh training regimen) to become almost exact duplicates of the queen, at least outward. They served as her eyes, ears, voice, and hands among the people, acting as spies, assassins, messengers, and occasionally were married off to favored nobles as rewards for service. The current Queen's Voice (high priestess) was one of the Handmaidens.

Handmaidens trained in all the arts, both of pleasure and of killing, at the monasteries and a secret training facility.

Currently, handmaidens are chosen for political influence, rather than piety or even resemblance. They are still trained as assassins and spies, however.