Neve blinked hard, turning his head to look at Maren.
His shock had only lasted for one second before he forced himself to recover. He straightened up and tilted his head to glare at Zyreth with defiance.
"Why? Why do you ask?" Maren said, trying to sound casual. "Are you that interested in my mother's condition? Are you concerned about her recovery?"
Zyreth stepped further into the hut as his eyes moved to the woman lying unconscious on the bed. He squeezed his face in a frown and looked back at Neve.
"Were you two talking about how impossible it was to treat her?" he asked suspiciously.
Neve felt relief wash over him. Zyreth thought they were discussing his mother's medical condition. At least Zyreth did not know they were talking about Neve's impossible mission to bear two hundred cubs or what they had been talking about before that.
