The good witch Mistress Pleasing is wary when the wizard Kluklicks arrives in the kingdom in magical fashion. He immediately strongly challenges the king to a contest of magic ability between himself and the wizards of this and other kingdoms. The winning wizard will be free to claim any items he wants from the treasuries of the losing kingdoms. His persistence in pressing for the contest worries Pleasing who wonders what he really wants. She eventually learns that Kluklicks believes in what most consider to be a myth. That an ancient wizard trapped great magical power in a bright red stone but then broke the stone into an unknown number of pieces because he feared anyone, even himself, having so much power. The lore says that he gave the pieces to several unnamed kings without explaining their real significance so they would be kept safe in the royal treasuries but not given much thought. By claiming pieces of red stone from several treasuries as contest prizes Kluklicks has amassed three pieces of what he believes is that special stone. He is here now because he suspects there is a fourth piece of it here. Probably the last missing piece. He believes that if he puts all the pieces together he will restore the stone to its original condition and will control the great power. Several contests are held between Kluklicks and Mistress Pleasing representing her kingdom and the pieces of red stone are eventually placed together with only the wizards and their helpers understanding what is actually at stake.