Claire and Jamie are reunited for a short time in Outlander Book 6, Chapter 96
Jamie finally makes it to Claire, but that reunion is short-lived in Outlander Book 6, Chapter 96. It does offer a little hope that there is a way to save Claire from execution, though.
It all starts with Claire and the others on the Cruizer watching as the fort burns. Governor Martin has finally realized that Claire is actually the accused murderess and not the forger, which makes her look at her a little differently. After all, she lied to him.
When Jamie finally gets to the ship, he offers Governor Martin the black diamond to save Claire. It’s not a bribe. He just wants to make sure that Claire gets a fair trial. Governor Martin has another offer for Jamie to allow Claire to go free.
This chapter does develop the plot considerably. I don’t really see all that much in the way of foreshadowing, and I’ll get to that in the foreshadowing section.
I definitely see this being used as part of the TV series, though. I can see Jamie finding Governor Martin, and there being trouble. After all, Jamie has pretty much declared he’s not fighting for the Crown. This will depend on how much Lord John Grey has shared so far. I’ll get to my thoughts on this in the adaptation section.
Let’s dive into A Breath of Snow and Ashes Chapter 96.
Just the Outlander chapter
The chapter starts with the burning of the fort. It’s a good thing that nobody was staying there. However, things are tense on the ship for another reason. Governor Martin now knows that Claire is the accused murderess.
When Jamie gets to the ship, the Frasers have a few seconds together before Jamie heads to see Governor Martin. He initially notes that the governor could allow Claire to go free without a trial. The governor enacted martial law, which means what he says goes. However, Martin refuses to do that. It would look bad for him.
So, Jamie wants a fair trial. He offers the black diamond, which Martin takes as a bribe at first. However, Jamie makes it clear that it is for the fair trial and that’s all. Martin decides not to take it, and instead makes Jamie an offer. If Jamie can bring 200 men for MacDonald’s campaign, Claire can go free.
Does Jamie have 200 men to do this? Claire knows that the Ardsmuir men would follow Jamie, but the fisherfolk won’t. This is going to be hard. Jamie keeps a poker face, though. He wants to think about it and then leaves Claire on the ship for the time being. Martin probably knows that Jamie can’t get the men. He can smell the soot and turpentine smells from the fort, suggesting that Jamie helped John Ashe.
Claire is angry. She has an outburst involving a knife that she stole. If Martin didn’t think her capable of murder up to this point, this is the moment it could change.
Foreshadowing in the Outlander chapter
There isn’t that much in the way of foreshadowing. I guess the main bit is that Martin has likely figured out that Jamie is now considered a rebel. However, it doesn’t play a big role in the story just yet.
This chapter is mostly about plot development. We need to see attempts to get Claire to go free, but there is one trick up someone else’s sleeve to save Claire from being committed of a crime she didn’t do. Jamie does have a good poker face, and there’s one thing he can do back on shore.
Adapting A Breath of Snow and Ashes chapter
I do think this chapter is going to be developed for Outlander Season 7. There’s no way around it. After all, we need to see Jamie do what he can to save Claire from the likely fate she faces at the moment.
There’s no reason for the show to change much of this chapter, though. We get the reunion between Claire and Jamie, what looks like a bribe, Jamie’s connection to the rebels, and the failure to get Claire back permanently.
What did you spot while reading A Breath of Snow and Ashes Chapter 96? Let us know in the comments below.
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