The story centers around a conflict between good and evil, primarily involving Emperor Alistair of Alasmore, who possesses a powerful mole stone capable of predicting good and evil. Alistair, a wise and fair ruler, uses the stone to protect his empire, but a dark lord named Mored, banished by the gods for his treachery, seeks to steal the stone to further his wicked ambitions. Mored possesses one of Alistair's trusted knights, Marvilio, using him to infiltrate the palace and kill the emperor, eventually seizing the mole stone. After Alistair's murder, Archibald, the Chief of Knights, becomes the new emperor and rules justly. Meanwhile, Niamb, the young prince and sole heir to the throne, is rescued by an old man, Boiseina, who raises him in a village called Abris. Niamb befriends Hokum, a boy who also lost his parents. Together, they grow up in relative obscurity, unaware of their royal lineage and the dangers looming over them. The story progresses with Hokum discovering a mysterious stone that turns out to be the mole stone. He also receives a magical sword and a flying horse from the gods, empowering him to face the evil forces at play.