[She simply smiles, both in the face of his distrust and at his answer. It's kind of fun, really. The scandal and distrust that followed her in the courts had become less about her being a mage and more about her closeness to the Empress. It was almost refreshing to get back to people just distrusting her on sight for something not related to royalty.]

I am a mage. [Duh. She waves her hand, ice forming and freezing over the land a good few feet around behind her, assuring nothing could just walk right over to sneak up on her from behind as she talks.]

Shapechanging just happens to be my specialty. If the spider bothers you, I could become a wolf instead, or a bear.