The story opens with a description of King elias, who has conquered all three continents and is now known as a "conqueror" . He is said to have been born at age 10 and to have led a crusade to another kingdom, where he returned with a fortune never before seen. The story then turns to the siege of the city of Melchior, which has been going on for 128 days. The siege has cost the king a fortune, and he begs his majesty to stop the siege.