As the novel begins, the reader is introduced to Jack Crookleg, a young farm boy. Jack has been chosen by “the", a powerful magician. Because of this Jack had to leave his family behind to start his training as the Bard's apprentice. Lucy, his younger sister, is constantly getting lost in fantasy worlds and imaging herself as a princess. His harsh father, Giles Crookleg, rarely appreciates his son's hard work. He is often showing obvious favoritism to Lucy over Jack. His mother on the other hand is gentle and kind. She even teaches Jack easy magic, such as talking to bees and other animals. The family is quite religious, as Giles had originally wanted to be a monk. Under the Bard’s dictation, Jack learns simple magic such as creating a fire.