Outlander Book Club: A Breath of Snow and Ashes Chapter 124 breakdown

Just the Outlander chapter

The chapter starts with Claire noting how everyone is now in the cabin. It’s uncomfortably full with everyone who lived in the Big House now in the cabin. Fortunately, everyone is safe, though. We also learn that Swaney manage to make it out of the fire, and Jamie is holding that close to him.

Later on, Claire goes outside with Adso to let him roam a little. She overhears a conversation between Jamie and Arch Bug. It’s time to find out how Arch and Murdina ended up with the gold ingots. They were the ones to rob Jocasta, taking it all from Hector Cameron’s tomb.

Arch even shares why he did it. He had a good job with the Grants, but then things went downhill because of Culloden. He and Murdina lost everything, and he’s bitter about that. Having his life and his wife isn’t enough for him like it is for Jamie. He wanted more, and Jamie couldn’t give him everything that he once had.

We learn that Arch and Murdina never did anything out of goodness. There was always some sort of plan behind it, and Claire wonders just how much they actually did. How much did they deceive people? All this time, we were left to like the two, and now we find out that they were villains of the story. It’s some brilliant writing on Diana Gabaldon’s part.

Jamie decides to release the Bugs from the oath of loyalty to him. They are free to leave, and the two pick up the gold ingots they have and go. It’s clear that they just care about money. Claire wonders where they will go. Will they remain in the Colonies or will they head back to Scotland?

The end to the chapter—and the book—has Jamie questioning whether fighting for freedom is worth it. Is he fighting on the right side? Claire confirms the Patriots will win, but she can’t say that Jamie will survive the battles. She does promise to be with him until the end, though. That’s all Jamie needs her to promise.