Carrick's expression did not change, but he stood up and immediately removed the fire guard, allowing the heat to better penetrate the room, then shovelled on another scoop of coal. He picked up the velvet throw that he had draped around Russ' shoulders and spread it on the floor so that the weredragon could be wrapped up and fully encased in the warm fabric.
"What can I do to help?" he asked, his voice carefully neutral. He had no great liking for the boy, but e was Russ' property, and the other man seemed to have taken a liking to him, though why was utterly beyond Carrick.