Outlander Book Club: An Echo in the Bone Chapter 17 breakdown

Just the Outlander chapter

We start with the Frasers starting their journey to Scotland. They run into twins who are bandits: Herman and Vermin. Well, it turns out that the young boys aren’t young boys at all. They are girls, and they dress this way to make sure they are safe from others out on the road.

Young Ian looks to get them back to their families. That doesn’t quite go to plan, though. The first place he takes the girls leads to them all being shot at. Then while out, they’re attacked by Arch Bug.

Arch has been a threat since the death of his wife. Claire does note that she wonders if Arch is following them, and it turns out he is. He wants to know where the gold is, but Ian won’t share anything. That’s even when Arch threatens to hurt one of the “boys.”

When the other twin makes it clear they’re girls, Arch drops the child and runs off. Ian wonders whether Arch would have hurt a child. It’s clear that he wouldn’t hurt a girl. Does this suggest that there is still a heart in him? Does this mean Ian doesn’t have to worry so much.

After a night wrapped up in Jamie’s plaid that he gave when Ian went off to be a Mohawk, Ian figures out what he needs to do. He takes the girls to Mrs. Sylvie, along with some gold. While Mrs. Sylvie is clearly in it for the money, she is compassionate. She knows the dangers for girls out there.

Ian makes a comment that it’s dangerous for men as well. We all know that while it is dangerous, it’s not as dangerous as it is for women and girls. I do think some of what Ian is going through right now is clouding some of his judgment in his words.