How do Halla’s moments of “babbling” serve as indirect forms of exposition to create a stronger sense of her backstory and day-to-day lifestyle?

How does Sarkis’s act of self-immolation subvert the magical laws binding him to his wielder’s commands, and what does this scene suggest about the nature of free will?

How does Swordheart use the characters of Halla and Sarkis to deconstruct traditional romance and fantasy tropes? (Conversely, where does the author choose to adhere to these tropes?)