Adam's first instinct was to insist that he could make do with the dictionary, since there was no reason to waste Alec's time with something he could do himself. But he took an extra moment to think before he spoke, and it occurred to him that Alec probably didn't have a better use of his time. Alec had been here alone for some unknown stretch of time, and the evidence Adam had suggested decades or centuries. He couldn't leave the temple, and aside from the history books filling themselves in, he probably didn't have any connection or knowledge regarding the outside world. It was no wonder he kept staring at Adam.

"Be much obliged," Adam mumbled, since it was difficult to solicit or accept help. Politeness always drew out the more self-effacing side of his nature, and thickened his drawl.