Neal bucks, weakly, at the pain hissing through his neck. He's never been a stoic. After a moment he subsides, teeth gritted, head swimming.

"Uh. Followed me out of town hall. We headed toward the boarding house, just talking. He said his name was... I don't remember what he said his name was. Conversation turned a little weird. I tried to leave, he dragged me off the road and..."

His lips quirk, his faux-amusement indicating their current situation. "Here we are."