| Tonight we feast! - And eat like kings! You won't make a meal of me yet! The beast is getting away! Something catch your eye there, lassie? Yes, something I'm not likely to forget in a hurry. |
| Mistress Claire. |
| You've lost your fichu. |
| And you lost your hair ribbon yesterday. |
| So I have. |
| I was so concentrated on escaping you, I didn't even notice. |
| Are you done with your game, lass? Soon. |
| The MacKenzie dinna say you could waste the whole day out here. |
| Well' who says we're done yet? There's still lots more to explore. |
| You were right, Mistress. |
| This pan of the woods is much better than the courtyard or the other side of the castle. |
| - Can I be the boar this time? - I don't see why not. |
| All right. |
| To the hunt! Mistress Beauchamp! We're missing the festivities. |
| It's nae since I was a bairn we've had a gathering at Leoch. |
| All right. |
| Shall we let these men get to their festivities? Come on. |
| - We can play again tomorrow. |
| - Of course. |
| All right. |
| Shall we? The hunting game was more than a pleasant diversion. |
| It allowed me to reconnoiter the terrain around the castle without suspicion. |
| So far I had found at least two possible escape routes, and left breadcrumbs to mark my way to freedom. |
| Doubt ye've ever seen anything as braw as this where yer from, eh? No. |
| The victory day celebrations in London and Paris far exceeded the gathering of the MacKenzie clan in terms of sheer size, but this was something different. |
| Simple joy, unencumbered by the trauma of war or the exhaustion of its end. |
| The MacKenzies were simply glad to see one another. |
| Despite my eagerness to leave, my heart lifted whenever I walked through the encampment and a small part of me regretted my imminent escape. |
| I had the entire route mapped out in my head. |
| At night, both windows would be lighted by torch, beacons to guide me to the breaches in the sentry posts. |
| But I still needed to find distractions for my ever-present shadows. |
| Gentlemen, please do not look, but that woman stirring the bowl over there seems to fancy one of you. |
| I said don't look. |
| Aye. |
| She's a pie-eater, that one. |
| Well, I'll just be settling my cock to roost in that tonight. |
| Not so fast. |
| We said everra man for himself during the gathering. |
| Aye, we did. |
| But ye ken how much I fancy a hen with a bit of meat. |
| Who doesn't? I may be of some assistance. |
| I realize I'm a captive audience of sorts. |
| But I'd rather not be subjected to another one of your inane debates. |
| So if you please, pull sticks? - Either one? - Aye. |
| Right. |
| Choose. |
| 'Tis all yer wanking gives ye that much speed of hand. |
| I'll save some pie for ye? I now needed to tend to the other elements of my plan. |
| I'll need to pick a horse for the hunt tomorrow. |
| The lad wants a healer to go along just in case. |
| Come along. |
| Uncle Lamb had taught me to ride during the years we lived in Ireland. |
| But that was a long time ago, and I needed to pick a gentle, easy horse. |
| Mistress. |
| There's no one in need of healing here. |
| I was told I would be needed for the hunt tomorrow. |
| She'll be wanting a horse, then. |
| I suppose, yes, if I mean to keep up. |
| Most of the horses have been spoken for. |
| I don't want to be of any trouble. |
| Perhaps Mr. |
| MacTavish can help me. |
| Lad's no here. |
| Best to leave Jamie to his own thoughts today, lass. |
| I didn't know I was a bother to him. |
| I dinna ken if yer a bother or no. |
| That's for the lad to judge. |
| I'm just saying it's best for all concerned if young Jamie is left to himself while the gatherings on. |
| 'Tis Brimstone. |
| I'm sure she'll be all right for yer needs. |
| Brimstone. |
| - Sounds ominous. |
| - Nah. |
| 'Tis like calling a tall man "wee. |
| " She's no fast, but she's sweet and can go for days. |
| Only thing is if yer not minding her every moment, she'll turn for home first chance she gets. |
| I'll leave you two to get acquainted. |
| There would be no turning for home, not if I had anything to say about it. |
| - Brought the port ye asked for. |
| - Christ, Geillis. |
| Mrs. |
| Fitz told me I might find you down here. |
| Hope I'm not disturbing ye. |
| No, of course not. |
| I was elsewhere. |
| Thank you. |
| I hope it wasn't too much trouble. |
| No trouble. |
| We have plenty collecting dust. |
| Something in port makes my husband fan like an ox. |
| Claire. |
| Are you with bairn, then? Pardon me? Ye've quite a stock of food here. |
| Are ye eating for two? Do you think that's simply because I have a store here rather than trudging back and forth to the kitchen? Perhaps that's why you're desperate to get to France? An illegitimate pregnancy? I can assure you I've never been unfaithful to my husband. |
| It's not unfaithful if he's dead. |
| Is he? He's not alive. |
| So he's dead, then. |
| He's dead. |
| And the two of you never conceived? No. |
| We never had children. |
| We tried. |
| Maybe you're barren. |
| Well, it doesn't matter now. |
| See ye have trouble sleeping as well. |
| Valerian root. |
| I have trouble sleeping, too. |
| But I don't mash my valerian like that. |
| I boil it whole first. |
| I was wondering about the proper dosage. |
| How much do you take? It's not for me. |
| Put it in Arthur's evening tea. |
| Then I sleep like a newborn. |
| Careful, though. |
| Ye have enough there to put a whole army to sleep till the next moon. |
| Thank you. |
| I'll boil it in the future. |
| When I first came to Cranesmuir, all I had was my wits, ye ken? I had a fairish knowledge of the plants and their good uses. |
| I found a man with a respectable position. |
| Decent house. |
| Some money put away. |
| I know he's not much to look at, as ye well ken. |
| But that doesn't trouble me much. |
| I'm free. |
| Can do whatever I please. |
| You seem to have built quite the comfortable life for yourself. |
| Sometimes ye find yerself on a path you never expected. |
| Doesn't mean it can't lead you to a bonny place. |
| I'd love to stay and chat, Geillis, but I still have so much to do and prepare for the hunt. |
| The hunt. |
| That must be what yer preparing for. |
| Of course. |
| The highlands are no place for a woman to be alone. |
| You'd do well to remember that. |
| See you later at the oath-taking? Are ye sure? Promise. |
| Careful. |
| Promise is a serious thing in this country. |
| Mine, too. |
| Later tonight, all the fighting men of the MacKenzie clan would gather in the hall and make their oaths of allegiance to Colum. |
| No one would be watching the stables. |
| I was almost ready. |
| Tonight would be my one and only chance to escape Leoch and return to Craigh na Dun. |
| I knew how I might dodge my shadows. |
| I had my mount and my provisions. |
| Now all I lacked was a weapon, should I need it. |
| Claire. |
| Yer no wearing that to the ceremony, are ye, lass? The ceremony? I assumed a Sassenach wouldn't be welcome at such an important event. |
| Don't be silly. |
| Yer Colum's personal guest. |
| Ye must attend. |
| I'm not dressed for the occasion. |
| We'll see to that straightaway. |
| I'd hate to put you out. |
| We'd better hurry now. |
| The beginning of the oath-taking is the best part. |
| - How do I look? - Lovely. |
| At first, I thought Mrs. |
| Fitz's intervention would disrupt my plans, but then I realized that with her at my side as a proper escort, my shadows would be less vigilant as I moved through the castle. |
| I needed them to relax, to let down their guard and enjoy the festivities if I was to distract them later. |
| - Glenna. |
| - Iona. |
| I see you have the place looking bright as a new pin. |
| That lovely dress again. |
| Ye wore it so well to the last gathering. |
| Murtagh. |
| The MacKenzie's welcoming the men to Leoch. |
| He hopes they had easy journeys. |
| Also hopes that never a day will come when the clan's fighting men will have to draw iron, but if they do Aye! He couldn't hope for a better lot than stands before him today to defend the clan's honor. |
| It is a right daft soul that would challenge the MacKenzies, weapons or no. |
| And he's proud to be called their laird. |
| I swear by the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the holy iron that I hold, to give ye my fealty and to pledge ye my loyalty to the name of clan MacKenzie. |
| And if ever I shall raise my hand against ye in rebellion, I ask that this holy iron shall pierce my heart. |
| I swear by the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the holy iron that I hold, to give ye my fealty and pledge ye my loyalty. |
| Are they all the same, the oaths? Aye. |
| Oh, well. |
| If you've seen one, then. |
| I ask that this holy iron shall pierce my heart. |
| Congratulations. |
| Interesting ceremony. |
| But I've seen enough. |
| Shall we go? No. |
| Where are we going? Back to the surgery. |
| I have to prepare the supplies for the hunt tomorrow. |
| Dedicated, are ye, now? Well' I dinna ken how ye celebrate in Oxfordshire, or wherever it is ye cry home, but I'm not missing the gathering, biding with you down in yer hole. |
| Suit yourself, but I'm going. |
| Well, Dougal's standing orders are to stay with ye. |
| Mistress. |
| Can ye see fit to stay? At least until I bag a lass for the evening? Fine. |
| If I must. |
| May as well join in. |
| Now, that's more in the spirit. |
| That's not rhenish. |
| It's port. |
| Very expensive. |
| Port. |
| 'Tis very strong. |
| Tis. |
| I canna seem to keep my legs. |
| It's a sedative. |
| Is that Spanish? Go. |
| Don't let me keep you. |
| Some lucky lady awaits. |
| Take the wine. |
| Share it with all your friends. |
| The more unconscious clansmen tonight, the better. |
| Ye rascals! I'll have yer hand! Laoghaire, you startled me. |
| I'm sorry, Mistress Beauchamp. |
| It's Claire. |
| Aye. |
| Is there something I can do to help you? Aye. |
| If I can trouble ye for a wee favor? - You're not injured, are you? - No, no, I'm Draw. |
| Well, I was wondering if you had a potion that might open a lad's heart to a lassie. |
| I'm not sure I know what you mean. |
| Ye ken, a potion, or maybe a brew of some kind that would help a lad A love potion? No, I dinna mean to offend ye, Mistress. |
| I just had it in mind that Well, ye aid so many with your healing that maybe ye have something in yer keen knowledge that could help a lass hold a lads attention. |
| Mr. |
| MacTavish? Well, you didn't appear to need much assistance the last time I saw you two together. |
| Well, not for that. |
| It's for moving his heart forward. |
| Wait there. |
| Dried horse dung. |
| Harmless if a bit pungent. |
| Jamie would never know the difference. |
| Perfect. |
| Here. |
| Sprinkle the contents of this at his threshold. |
| Stand outside the door, tap your heels together three times, and recite, "There's no place like love, there's no place like love. |
| " Thanks to ye. |
| Claire. |
| Good luck. |
| Past the storeroom on the right. |
| Avoid the kitchen. |
| Through the east wing, then make for the north stairs. |
| What the devil? Thank you. |
| I should go. |
| I shouldn't be here. |
| Aye. |
| Ye shouldna be here. |
| But since ye are, there's a penalty to pay for that. |
| Get ye gone, lass. |
| Before ye pay a greater price. |
| I had to focus and forget about the incident with Dougal. |
| 15 paces towards the well. |
| Keep to the northwest to avoid the sentry, who usually faces scum. |
| Brimstone is on the right, fourth stall from the doorway. |
| Jesus H. |
| Roosevelt Christ. |
| No, Sassenach. |
| Just me. |
| How far did ye think ye'd get, lass, on a dark night with a strange horse, with half the MacKenzie clan after ye by morning? Won't be after me. |
| They're all up at the hall. |
| And if one in five of them is sober enough to stand in the morning, let alone ride a horse, then I'll be most surprised. |
| Running away on a whim just because the men are drunk? "On a whim"? You know I've wanted to leave here for weeks. |
| And I know exactly how many sentry posts surround the castle. |
| And I know how to make my way through the forest and find the road back to Inverness. |
| Well, that's a very sound plan, Sassenach. |
| Or would be, did Colum not post extra guards through the woods tonight. |
| He'd hardly leave the castle undefended, and the fighting men of the clan inside it. |
| I'm going anyway. |
| The best trackers in the clan are here. |
| They'll catch ye. |
| Colum will not be calling ye a guest after that. |
| I don't care. |
| I need to leave this place. |
| As you so plainly stated, I'm an outlander, just a Sassenach. |
| If I offended ye, I'm sorry, Claire. |
| I know you didn't mean it like that. |
| It's just I've been planning this escape for some time, and to have all my hopes shot to hell just in a moment, it's Come along. |
| I'll take you back up to the castle. |
| I don't think that's a very good idea. |
| I had an encounter with some drunken clansmen in the corridor. |
| They dinna touch ye now? I can't go back. |
| Dougal and I were in the corridor near the kitchen and he was being for-ward with me, and I may have walloped him over the head with a chair or something, and I think he's unconscious. |
| Was he drunk? Very. |
| Well, I doubt very much he'll remember that. |
| And even if he does, I doubt he'll be in a rush to bruit that a lass got the better of him. |
| Knocked him out cold, huh? I didn't exactly stick around to examine him. |
| Well, I hope ye left a good mark so he remembers his error in judgment. |
| 'Tis fine, Sassenach. |
| Come. |
| This isn't the way back in. |
| Where are we going? There's an opening to a hidden tunnel. |
| Found it playing as a bairn. |
| Here, careful. |
| Brings us out under the cellar. |
| Thank you. |
| For seeing me back safely. |
| No, lass. |
| It's me that should be thanking you, for all yer healing of my scratches. |
| God's eyes. |
| If it's not the young lad, Colum's nephew. |
| Come late to the oath-taking, are ye not? Ye don't want to miss your turn in front of himself. |
| Na, let me go and change first at the cottage. |
| I'm not decent going to the oath-taking like this. |
| Don't worry yourself about that, laddie. |
| We will outfit you proper inside. |
| - Can I keep the lassie for myself? - Let the lady go! - Are ye all right? - Watch out! Ye dinna have to hit me so hard. |
| - I was willing to come. |
| - Aye. |
| But I dinna want ye maiming half the clan while ye were making up yer mind. |
| Got the rest of yer clothes, Jamie. |
| Well, that should be suitable for the laird's nephew. |
| You'll be needing this. |
| "I shine, not burn. |
| " Aye, the MacKenzie motto. |
| I'm sorry. |
| Didn't mean for you to have to stand up for me. |
| Don't fuss yourself on my account. |
| - How's your head? - Fine. |
| My sister Jenny says it's harder than an iron pot. |
| I canna wear this. |
| I'm not a MacKenzie. |
| Do ye know my motto' lass? My clan's, I mean? No. |
| I don't even know what clan you're from. |
| Find a place in the hall. |
| "I am ready. |
| " But ready for what? Jamie's here. |
| Why is everyone so tense? What's going on? - Why? - I'll tell ye. |
| If Jamie pledges fealty to his uncle, Colum, then he'd be in line to succeed as laird. |
| He'd be part of clan MacKenzie, ye see? Why wouldn't Hamish become laird? If he's too young, then Dougal? That may be the way the English do things. |
| But clans are tanist. |
| Jamie has MacKenzie blood. |
| If enough clansmen want Jamie to be laird, then there it would be, and a terrible thing at that. |
| Mr. |
| MacTavish seems like a good choice to be laird. |
| His other uncle, Dougal, might disagree with ye on that point, lass. |
| He's been holding the honor for himself when Colum dies. |
| If Jamie takes the oath, Dougal wouldna let him breathe MacKenzie air for long. |
| So why doesn't he just decline to take the oath? Not while he abides at Leoch. |
| As the laird's nephew, and as a healthy man at arms, he has no choice. |
| If before all Jamie refuses, the maids would likely be scrubbing the lad's blood from the floor at Colum's feet. |
| So no matter what he decides, he winds up dead? Why stay at the castle? Why didn't he just leave if both his uncles would have his head on a pike? The lads got a price on his head. |
| Would not be long before Captain Randall or the watch had him in irons. |
| The only safe place in Scotland is here at Leoch. |
| Until now. |
| If Jamie had just stayed hidden till the gathering was over, Colum and Dougal wouldna pressed the matter any further. |
| So leaving the stables to escort me back Oh, God, this is all my fault. |
| Aye. |
| It is. |
| Colum MacKenzie, I come to you as kinsman and as ally. |
| But I give ye no vow. |
| For my oath is pledged to the name that I bear. |
| I give you my obedience as Kinsman. |
| And as laird. |
| And I hold myself bound to yer word, so long as my feet rest on the lands of the clan MacKenzie. |
| You're too old for this. |
| 'Tis a braw day for a boar tynchal, is it no? It's quite the show of force for a pig hunt. |
| It's a boar. |
| Of course. |
| Twenty men armed with spears and muskets. |
| Seems about right to kill one hairy pig. |
| You've plainly never seen one then. |
| Get yer mount. |
| Time to go. |
| Mistress Claire! Serves you right. |
| What'd you expect the poor animal to do with you barbarians chasing it? Did you forget their tusks could be lethal? Bring him back up to the castle, and tell Mrs. |
| Fitz to give him some hot broth and some blankets. |
| It'll need to be stitched, but I don't have any sterile tools here. |
| So he'll be all right then? Yes. |
| You'll have a limp. |
| Score one for the pig. |
| Maybe next time you'll think about going fishing. |
| All right, take him back now. |
| Lass. |
| Wait for me. |
| Wait! Where are you? Now then. |
| Now then, Geordie, now then. |
| You're gonna be all right. |
| I've got you, man, okay? You'll be all right. |
| Dougal, is it bad? You'll be fine. |
| You're gonna be fine. |
| It wasn't spurring, which meant the femoral artery wasn't cut. |
| So there was a good chance I could stop the bleeding at the thigh. |
| Will I lose my leg? No. |
| No, you won't. |
| But that would only allow him to linger in increasing agony. |
| The wound to his abdomen was fatal. |
| Here. |
| A better death, perhaps, was what Dougal was giving him. |
| To die cleanly under this sky, his heart's blood staining the same leaves dyed by the blood of the beast that killed him. |
| - Dougal, man. |
| - Aye, I'm here. |
| I need to know, after we raided the clan MacDonald and stole the 20 kine from under their noses Aye, I remember. |
| We held up at Florrach for days. |
| - But we ate well, no? - Aye. |
| Aye, we did for sure. |
| Tell me here now, man. |
| Did you bed my sister Doreen? Aye. |
| I did bed her. |
| But, you know, she was a bonny lass. |
| I ken it. |
| You always could charm the lasses. |
| It will be better soon. |
| The pain will be gone soon. |
| It feels better now. |
| I canna feel my leg anymore, Dougal. |
| My hands neither. |
| Dougal, are you there, man? I'm here, I'm here, I'm here. |
| I've got you. |
| Geordie. |
| Tell me about your home. |
| It's near a wide glen. |
| Not far from Loch Fannich. |
| What's it like there? I'll wager it's beautiful. |
| Tis. |
| In the spring Yes? The heather's so thick, ye can walk across the tops without touching the ground. |
| That sounds lovely. |
| Wish I could be there now. |
| You'll be there soon, lad. |
| Aye. |
| Will ye stay with me? - Aye. |
| - Yes. |
| There you are. |
| There. |
| Get the ball! Pass it! Pass it! I taught you this game' lad. |
| That ye did. |
| Murtagh! Didn't look very fair. |
| That's twice ye caught me napping. |
| Yield! - What would you think of me if I did? - Not much. |
| Play fair now. |
| Ye taught me well. |
| Aye. |
| Too well. |
| Did we win? My escape attempt thwarted, I was faced with the terrifying possibility that I was destined to stay in this dungeon forever. |
| I wasn't ready to give up, but I needed time to come up with another plan. |
| You've seen men die before and by violence. |
| Yes. |
| Many of them. |
| Ye've done a fine job here as healer. |
| Mrs. |
| Fitz would have ye sit for a portrait if it was up to her. |
| And I wanted to thank you personally for what you did for poor Geordie up there on the hunt. |
| In truth, I did nothing. |
| - I wish I could have helped him. |
| - Ye did. |
| Ye took him to a peaceful place, and that's all any of us can ask when we pass. |
| So, thank you. |
| You're welcome. |
| If there's nothing else, you'll have to excuse me. |
| I've a lotto do here in my dungeon. |
| Well, that's why I'm here, lass, to set ye free from this dank room. |
| - What do you mean? - You're coming on the road. |
| "On the road"? I'm leaving tomorrow, and I'm taking you with me. |
| Taking me where? Traveling through MacKenzie lands, collecting rents. |
| Colum doesna travel, so visiting the tenants and tacksmen that can't come to the gathering, that falls to me, and attending to a wee bit of business here and there. |
| But why me? I think it would be wise to have a healer along, especially one that does well under strain. |
| And there's a lot of that on the road. |
| So that's the business settled. |
| Mrs. |
| Fitz will have supper ready, and ye don't want to incur her wrath by coming late. |
| We leave at first light. |
| As the confines of the castle walls faded behind me like a bad dream, I took my first full breath in weeks. |
| I had no idea where this journey would lead me, what opportunity might present itself I could only hope it would bring me closer to the standing stones of Craigh na Dun. |
| If so, I was determined to reach them, knowing this time I must not fail. |
| |