A book about an unyielding drive toward life and victories over oneself. A narrative about inevitable retribution for a committed evil deed.
A far-off relative of the owner of the castle “Gruf” decides to become master of the estate. He hires robbers to kill the castle owner and stage the death of the heir—a little Alba. But the hired men decide, later, to blackmail their customer: they kidnap Alba and keep him on an island in the swamps. There he endures severe torment and emerges victorious from a deadly duel. Half-alive, he is found by the family of monastery peasants and given shelter.
One day, in the absence of the head of the family, robbers come to their hamlet. Alba saves everyone. He leaves the family that sheltered him and goes into the “big world,” deciding to devote himself to fighting villains. During his travels he meets Benson, a close friend of Tom. Together they visit “Ador,” where a dramatic battle takes place.