Outlander Book Club: A Breath of Snow and Ashes Chapter 58 breakdown

Just the Outlander chapter

The chapter starts with Roger returning from being ordained. He needs to get ready for his first service, which is going to take place in the schoolmaster’s home. That Christie’s home, as Tom is the schoolmaster. There isn’t a church on the Ridge right now, and the schoolmaster’s home is a little more accommodating than other cabins on the Ridge.

During the first service, Roger is interrupted by a snake in the place. He doesn’t want others to be alerted by it. He can see that it’s not a venomous snake, but the others wouldn’t believe that. Fortunately, Jamie is there, and he manages to grab the snake. Claire sees what he has, and she ends up putting it in her pocket. Brianna is just confused by the whole situation not realizing there was a snake.

I laughed so much throughout this scene. It really is a shame that it wasn’t included in the show.

After that, people share their thoughts about the sermon. There are comments about him missing parts of the story he chose, and comments about using Latin. Roger doesn’t really understand what they mean. It’s clear that people weren’t fully listening.

During the night, Roger has a nightmare. He realizes that he knows the man he killed that night he went with Jamie to save Claire. It was a thieftaker from the Gathering. Roger notes to Brianna that he meant to kill the guy.