Sarkis is a cynical, ancient warrior who has been magically bound to the sword that Halla discovers in her room in Rutger’s Howe. As the “servant of the sword” (15), his existence is a paradox: He is an immortal, formidable weapon, yet he is also a prisoner, materializing only when the wielder draws the sword from its sheath. He is also duty-bound to protect the wielder at any cost. Although he adopts an offhand manner, Sarkis’s gruff exterior conceals deep wounds from a past betrayal, and as the novel unfolds, he demonstrates a growing capacity for tenderness. Having been trapped as the servant of the sword for almost 500 years, Sarkis sees the world in terms of threats, combat, and survival, and he is frequently startled by Halla’s more domestic and intellectual perspective.

Beneath his cynicism lies a rigid code of honor. He is magically compelled to protect his wielder, and he takes this duty seriously even when he finds his wielder to be exasperating. His first significant act is to forbid Halla from dying by suicide. While this protective instinct is part of his duty, he eventually begins to feel a deep, personal devotion for Halla. He is genuinely enraged by the injustice of her situation and becomes ever more protective of her well-being. His sense of honor is based on his past as a mercenary captain, for although he once betrayed his king, his ultimate loyalty was to his own people, and he finds a new use for his innate loyalty when he vows to protect Halla.

Sarkis’s relationship with Halla also allows him to rediscover his humanity. While he begins the novel thinking of himself as nothing more than a weapon, Halla’s persistent questions and unwavering kindness force him to engage with her as the full-fledged human he once was. She makes it a point to ask about his past and learn about the mechanics of his curse. As his trust in her grows, he begins to reveal his vulnerabilities, from the trauma of his initial binding to his fear of enduring an endless, lonely existence. His physical intimacy with Halla completes this transformation, reawakening desires that he had suppressed for centuries and solidifying his role as an equal partner to the woman he loves.

Zale, a nonbinary priest, is a key ally to Halla and Sarkis. As an “advocate divine” for the Temple of the White Rat, they represent a form of power that is intellectual and institutional. Zale embodies the ethos of their faith: They are dedicated to finding practical solutions to complex problems. Their involvement provides Halla with a legitimate, nonviolent path to reclaiming her inheritance. Zale’s sharp legal mind and calm authority allow them to dismantle Malva and Alver’s claims with strategic precision.

In addition to offering their legal expertise, Zale is a witty, curious, and deeply loyal friend with a dry sense of humor. They share Halla’s intellectual curiosity, becoming fascinated with the magical mechanics of Sarkis’s condition. They also act as a confidant and counselor, offering Halla emotional support and relationship advice. Zale demonstrates considerable courage, standing up to the aggressive priests of the Hanged Mother and facing down kidnappers with unshakable composure, proving that competence and intellect are as heroic as any warrior.

Aunt Malva and her son Alver serve as the primary antagonists at the beginning of the novel, representing the oppressive societal and familial forces attempting to control Halla’s life and wealth. The cruel, domineering Malva is motivated by pure greed and seeks to keep Silas’s inheritance within her family line. Her unnaturally powdered face and sharp tongue make her a “ghoul” in Halla’s perception, for she sees Halla as nothing more than an obstacle to the wealth she desires. She therefore orchestrates Halla’s imprisonment and the forced marriage proposal without a hint of remorse.

Alver is the weak-willed instrument of his mother’s plans. While he is less overtly malicious, his complicity makes him equally contemptible in Halla’s view. She frequently cites her loathing of his “clammy, ringed hands” (4), and this image becomes a recurring symbol of his grasping nature and odious manner. He lacks the conviction to defy his mother, even when he recognizes her cruelty. By locking Halla in her room and trying to force her into a powerless position, Alver and Malva inadvertently push her to take desperate action and set her own journey of self-discovery in motion.

As avid collectors of unusual objects, Bartholomew and Nolan function as antagonists and represent a more insidious form of greed. Bartholomew is initially presented as a harmless but eccentric friend of Halla’s late great-uncle Silas. However, upon learning the true nature of Sarkis’s sword, his collector’s avarice overcomes any sense of loyalty or morality. He betrays Halla, stealing the sword and abandoning her to her relatives.

Nolan, a scholar-priest from the Order of the Sainted Smith (the same woman who bound Sarkis to the sword), embodies this same greed on an institutional level. His pursuit of the sword is cloaked in the legitimacy of scholarly and religious interest, but he is just as ruthless as Bartholomew, ultimately murdering his co-conspirator to secure Sarkis for himself.