Outlander Book Club: A Breath of Snow and Ashes Chapter 71 breakdown

Just the Outlander chapter

The chapter starts with Claire thinking about the development process of black pudding when Ronnie Sinclair shows up. He has a note for “the healer,” a note that someone passed to him and he doesn’t know who it came from. Claire decides that it isn’t that urgent so sends Ronnie inside to Jamie with it.

It’s only later that it appears to be on the more urgent side. The letter is from “Faydree” and it just says:

YU

CUM

Claire notes that this is Phaedre, and she knows that Bree taught Phaedre how to write a little. It’s enough to get a note out to Claire, and it makes it clear that this is on the more urgent side. Why would Phaedre want to get a letter to “the healer” unless it wasn’t something medical? Why wouldn’t Phaedre tell Jocasta, though?

Brianna is also back from her trip with Ian by this point. She and Roger later help Claire and Jamie to get to the bottom of the note. It is concerning that Phaedre wouldn’t want Jocasta or Duncan sending for help, which suggests the seriousness of the matter. Could she be with child and that put her in danger?

Roger shares that there’s only one way to get to the bottom of it. Claire and Jamie need to head to River Run. The good news is most of the outside work for the winter is done. Claire and Jamie can leave for now.