"It's a port city in my home province," Felix explains. "It has a reputation for being full of pirates and thieves, but it's hardly lawless. I visited once."

Their guide's path turns left, apparently leading them toward the pack. Felix's hands immediately curl at his side over readied spells. But as they walk the howls fall behind, and though there's a flapping of wings above nothing else appears to break the deepening gloom.