Outlander Book Club: A Breath of Snow and Ashes Chapter 3 breakdown

Just the Outlander chapter

The chapter starts with Claire and Jamie getting home. Donald MacDonald is waiting for them, and he notes that Lizzie has gone off to her fiance’s home with her father. That’s left him to his own devices while waiting as Mrs. Bug is getting on with things around the land.

Donald has come from New Bern, which is where the new governor lives. It’s clear that the reason of the visit is due to something in New Bern, which doesn’t sit well with Claire. Donald and Jamie later go off to talk business, but not before Young Ian turns up with the wound on his head. Rollo is definitely worried.

Donald thinks that it’s a tomahawk, and it’s clear that he hopes that it is. However, Claire and Jamie both note that it looks like a branch hit his head and caused the head wound. Young Ian will have a concussion and he needs stitches, but that’s it.

I love that we see Young Ian and Rollo’s bond in this chapter. Rollo refuses to leave Young Ian’s side until he knows that Ian is safe. Even just being around Claire doesn’t settle him all that much. He needs to know that Ian is going to live and by knowing that, he can now have some food.