...And then suddenly she is not in a desert, but standing in some kind of pattern drawn on the floor of a room and Odette's there, Odette's okay and she's not in the desert anymore and she just kind of flings herself at her sister and clings and cries a bit.

"I'm sorry, I should have been sooner, I'm sorry," Odette murmurs, hugging back fiercely.

"I'll be in the staffroom," the wizard says, and he leaves to give them some space.

"Where on Earth are we?"

"Not on Earth. It's--some kind of square planet, with weird magic--they said something about a hotel room, did you get any sleep? I'm so sorry."

"No, I didn't. And I've been walking and running for--can you carry me, a bit?"

"Of course." Illia lightens considerably. Odette takes her hand and goes to find the person who offered to get her a hotel room.

Receptionist! She is delighted to get them both a hotel room. On the house. (They must be taking a hell of a cut on the de-agings.) Here is a lovely inn, Sainted Magnolias Bed & Board.

Odette can consider what they're taking on the de-aging later. For now what's important is getting Illia food and water and sleep.

Sainted Magnolias has lovely Corentan cuisine and cozy beds.

Odette also elected to sleep off her all-nighter, but she spent hers in a comfortable office sitting down, not running in a desert. She woke up, acquired a Corentan novel, and has began familiarizing herself with the style of literature by the time Illia opens her eyes.

They seem to be big on the sainted flowers thing, which is not explained in their popular literature at all.

"Much better. Still kind of sore. Hungry."

"I'll see if I can get you something to eat," Odette says, and nips out to ask the hotel staff.

They will be happy to provide room service! Here's a menu. They can also recommend local restaurants.

Which one would be quicker?

Quickest would be someplace that serves really quick food, or just taking some fruit from the lounge. Room service is faster than a full to-order meal from a restaurant.

Room service, then, and a couple pieces of fruit from the lounge until then. After what she went through yesterday Illia shouldn't be skimping on food at all. It's a good thing she likes fruit as much as she does.

Room service brings a lovely platterful.

Corenta is not all human. There are totally bird people around, and stuff.

Wow, there's so many kinds of people. It makes her feel downright uncosmopolitan, considering that there's nothing but humans back home.

The bird people do not wish to be stared at. It may cause ruffled feathers.