"I've been there. If you think this is cold, don't be tempted to visit Siberia in the winter. You'll probably just die."

"Yeah, I would, I would."

"Where're you from, anyway? I can't place your accent."

"I'm from Thorns.

...not super sure where that is in relation to here. I got here by magical accident, and I haven't quite joined up the maps."

"Yikes. Well, I'm sure some office somewhere has a big old atlas of the whole world if you can bother enough people to get at it?"

"Well, that's why I took this job. Eventually, I'll end up in the office of someone with, like, the biggest map, and I'll be able to get ten minutes with it to work out what the heck you people call Thorns and find it."

There are unclear levels of sarcasm there.

"I'll mention it to the regional coordinator. Maybe we can work something out."

...

"Sure!"

"No promises, of course. Everyone's busy and all."

"Oh, of course, I don't want to put you out or anything."

"Mentioning it doesn't cost-"

"Kathe! Flight's ready in five!"

"Eh, that's my cue. What's your name so I know who to mention?"

"Marena. Ragara Marena."

She writes it down. "Well, probably won't see you two again. Wish me luck against those fuckin' demons, yeah?" And off she goes.

"Good luck, and try not to get eaten!"

The fire witch is still here. She snaps her fingers and starts playing with the flames again. "Soooo... I'm bored now, but I was bored before, so whatever. You know anything fun to do around here?"

"There's a pub? Not sure if that counts."

"Getting drunk might be better than standing around. Maybe even find a guy or something." Flick, flick, idle tongues of flame.

Wahey, a kindred spirit!

"I'd be happy to come along to a pub."

She smirks and quits with the pyromania, kicking off from where she was leaning against a wall. "Lead the way, o indie captain of booze."

She leads the way. Pub, ho!

Pub, ho! They remember her and cheer that she's brought a friend this time! Her friend gets into the spirit of things very quickly. She does fire tricks and manages not to burn down the entire bar, and is pretty drunk by the time it's about time for Marena's return trip.

Yay, pubs! And party tricks!

...and 'yay' flying.

Flying continues to drain essence and be physically tiring but not, like, actually difficult. Bristol awaits her. Apparently the Windward Boat Company made a sudden rush order of a lot of things from London! The post office is scrambling about it.

She is graciously going to volunteer to help with that rush. Definitely no ulterior motives here! (Anyway, 'weirdly keen to make more deliveries' is more likely to be see as 'would like more money' than 'desire to conduct industrial espionage and work out what the heck is those orders')

"If you don't need to rest for a bit after coming from- Well, it was a short flight. Sure, if you think you're up for it, you haven't botched anything yet... More than I can say about some of my girls. I'm not sure what all the fuss is about but apparently it's a big deal, and orders are orders. We'll have you follow Sasha there to the pickup spot and they'll immediately load your wing and then you fly back just as immediately and drop it straight in the Windward Company's yard. Sasha'll show you where, she's one of the more reliable ones."

The boss witch points her to two 'wings and a tall, blonde girl with sharp features in an unusually pristine uniform, who looks deadly serious.