Jamie and Ian get some time alone to talk about life in Virgins section 14. However, it’s clear that there is something to Ian choosing to leave Scotland.
I think this section has a lot of weight to it when you get into the details. There’s a lot going on in Ian’s head, and I get a sense that there might be a touch of jealousy when it comes to the life that Jamie has been able to lead. Of course, Jamie’s life hasn’t been an easy one recently.
Breaking down Virgins section 14
The section starts with Jamie and Ian having a chance to talk. Their job is done, and now they can relax a little and figure out what to do. Jamie thinks about heading back to the tavern to talk to the barmaid he was flirting with and tell her that he isn’t a Jew.
I do love that he feels like he needs to make this point. I don’t think it’s because he believes she needs to know this, but that his pride has been hurt. He doesn’t want people thinking he is something that he’s not, and this is something that he needs to learn to deal with over time.
Since the tavern is on the other side of the city, he decides that he can’t be bothered with that. So, he asks Ian about why he left Scotland. Ian’s dad wouldn’t have been happy with Ian becoming a soldier. However, Ian goes into a moody silence, which tells us that there is something to this story, and I do wonder if there’s an element of jealousy in it.
Jamie was able to go to university and get an education. Now he’s a soldier, and he’s always learned how to fight. We know Ian had learned how to fight, but that’s not what his dad would have wanted for him. So, what happened while Jamie was away?
In the end, the D’Eglise interrupts their conversation. He needs the two of them to come with him, but he needs to know if Jamie’s shirt looks good on the back. Jamie is frustrated again, and this is a mixture of pride and shame. He knows that he’s the talk of the men because of his back, and he’s ashamed of everything that happened at Fort William. However, Jamie doesn’t get into an argument. Instead, he grits his teeth, lets the D’Eglise his shirt looks good, and the three go off to the next task.
Could this section be adapted into a TV series?
If there was a prequel series based on Virgins, I could see some of this section being used, but I don’t think all of it would be. There’s only a couple of important sections for the rest of the story, and the first is seeing Ian’s reaction to why he left Scotland. That could take place anywhere, so it would probably be combined with another conversation.
The other section is the end, with the captain showing up looking for the two men. After all, this leads to the next job for the mercenaries to take up.
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