It turns out that the portal is only a local gateway for all Ostentum, who come from Calaspia itself, not an alien world. Nequam, the sorcerer who had "brought the Ostentum to Calaspia", appears to have been a good man after all. But is this really the case? The allies are bitterly divided over the issue, and, as Ayactan mounts his offensive, each of them faces a tough choice. They end up opposing each other. Friend kills friend, bitter hatred replaces the trust and cooperation of Book Two.

One side believes Nequam is innocent, and that he is the only one who can help them repel the threat and defeat Insanity forever. The other side believes they are foolish, and keep to the traditional belief that Nequam was the one responsible for the Wars of the Gate (which he was, but not in the way people think). Both forces use forbidden powers that are supposed to be used only by unanimous agreement.

So although they are both against Ayactan, they are split over the issue of whether to reactivate the portal to bring Nequam back from the Spiritworld. Bryn, who wields Culmus, is distraught by his friends' strife. For a long time, he refuses to fight on either side, but he ends up with those who believe in Nequam's goodness. Nequam returns, proves his innocence, and the allies of Book 2 are reunited. Together they drive out Ayactan and banish him to the Spiritworld from whence he came. They don't need to kill the Ostentum, for Nequam can control them as he did during the Wars of the Gate (see below) via the power of Insanity.