Different universities. Same academic disciplines. Alec was well versed in the process. Historians and archaeologists, it had been decided, were best equipped to gather the information he needed. Also, careers in these fields took years to flourish. This made Alec’s financial incentive more alluring when it came to buying their confidentiality.

He didn’t expect any complications during the recruitment process. It was only afterwards, upon the team’s return from Tír Mallacht, did Alec need to depart from his usual procedure. He would acquaint them with how the creeper’s curse came to be. Whilst it could also enhance their chances to bring to light a few theories yet to be refuted in the field. Should all go to plan, they would return to the village by their own volition and there seek out a means to save themselves and any undisclosed offspring that they were either too ashamed or too moneygrubbing to mention. Alec was of the belief that everyone was allowed to act a little selfishly when it came to their own survival. He was, of course, no exception to this rule.

Behind the curtains of his study, the shutters had rolled down before sunset. He was glad to have another project to occupy his mind. Alec resolved to approach it patiently, milking it for all the hours it was worth. He would return to his list with a fresh pair of eyes the following morning and whittle the prospective recruits down to five. That would make for an enjoyable distraction. The thought of having something to do always lifted his spirits.

The grandfather clock chimed eight times. Alec had stayed at his desk later than usual. Without Lara to tend his routine, time had admittedly gotten away from him. She had called that morning to inform him that her mother had fallen ill. The woman’s health, to his knowledge, was oft in doubt, and yet this was the first time Lara felt duty-bound to give her employer’s wellbeing a miss in lieu of her mother’s. She had, however, promised to visit Alec should her mother show signs of improvement. But of this there was no guarantee. As put out as he was by the inconvenience of it all, Alec bade her to pass his wishes on to the woman, though this kindness was spoken through gritted teeth.

Had Lara been on the premises, she would have visited him long before now. It was her habit to inform him of his evening meal by seven o’clock. He liked to pretend that she was only out of sight, in another room, otherwise occupied with her chores about his home.