The enchanter Count Harken is back. After his attempt to bewitch Charlie's mother was foiled, he is determined to wreak revenge on the Red King's heirs. Charlie's ancestors, Otus Yewbeam and his son, have been imprisoned in the dark, forbidding land of Badlock by Count Harken. Otus is a giant, married to Amoret, the Red King's daughter. But he is no match for the enchanter's troll army, led by the sinister Oddthumb. Charlie is sucked into a painting of Badlock and tries to rescue them and reunite them with Amoret. But can he outwit the troll army? And what about poor Runner Bean, who follows him? Charlie will need all the luck he can get to outwit the powerful enchanter of Badlock.