Laerryn's gaze tracks abruptly over to Zerxus from her inspection of the stranger.

"Patia...?" Does she know, is she involved. Either or.

On the cot, Neal draws in a slow, deep breath, and exhales heavily as he settles a little more against the cushion. His eyelids flutter briefly. Laerryn leans closer, looking for traces of some working or tool.

Neal breathes, slow and deep. He shivers and curls onto his side.

"The wizards you fought. What did they want him back for? Did they hint?"

Academics can never resist a fucking hint at what they're working on, trying to entice anyone in earshot to ask about it.

Neal twitches in his sleep and then shivers again.