"Oh?"

"I mean, our host turned her into a swan and she's still friendly at him."

"He--that actually didn't come up, even. I'm surprised. Although I suppose it does explain why she only came in a bit after sunset..."

"She set him on fire, he got mad and turned her into a swan, she forgave him, he still regrets it because of how, like, anyone else wouldn't've."

"That...makes a great deal of sense."

"He has a hundred years to figure out how to fix it. He probably will."

Nod. "I hope so."

"Yeah. And on that note, I'm going to go back to my Ansati and the magic books. I probably can't really help, but who knows? Have fun with your poetry."

"I will."

Siva works on her Ansati and begins to make small amounts of progress on the magic theory books.

She thinks about some other things, too.

It's not very many more days before she requests the trip.

"Where would you like to go?"

"I don't have a specific city in mind, but, like, somewhere I can wander around in public places talking to random people and not be considered too weird."

"I think I can manage that," he says. "You can call my name when you want to be brought back."

"I thought that only worked on the mountain?"

"And now it works for you wherever you go."

"Aw, that's sweet. ...You only hear your name, right, it's a sweet resource not a creepy spying option?" 

"My name and whatever you say after it, but if it doesn't sound like it's meant for me I stop listening."

"Okay, good, just checking. I will make sure to let you know when I want to come back or if I get mugged or something."

"Good."

So - he flies her to a city.

She kisses him goodbye and walks into the city.

It's a city! It has people in it! Talking to multiple-digit numbers of people in one day is lovely. She walks around and window-shops but doesn't buy anything (conjuration makes it slightly redundant and she has no money on her) and eats some food she packed in a park and talks to people.

By the time she's ready to go back the sun is starting to go down. Her feet hurt. She doesn't mind. She walks out of the city, far enough that no one will see her ride and be justifiably alarmed, and says, "Tanaikon, I'm ready to come home."

Lightning flashes, high in the sky. A breeze swirls down to ruffle her hair. Tanaikon appears.

"Did you have a nice day?"

"Yeah," she says, stepping forward and hugging him. "It was good. Definitely ready to come back now, though."

"All right."

He hugs her, and kisses her, and flies her back to the castle.

Mmm. Wind-riding is still so good. Siva shows no particular inclination to stop hugging him once they land.

Well, hugs are nice.