Leading his band of exiles, James continues to heed the call of the black castle, unsure if it will lead to salvation or destruction. As his companions fall prey, one by one, to the dark forces that hold sway in the mysterious world of The Never, James finds that only his love for the headstrong Kilani grounds him in his purpose of finding a way home. Hoping to fulfill his promise to her, he ventures into the treacherous realm of the enigmatic boy-tyrant Gai. In a shifting reality, James discovers secrets that will shake the beliefs that define him. His travels in and out of Gai's Courtyard of the Five Doors grant him glimpses of truth that breed doubt as to whether he is truly the Anointed One.