Taking advantage of the chaos, Jamie effortlessly hoisted Claire over the saddle, placing her like a sack of meal before swiftly mounting Donas himself. With swift and brutal strokes of his sword, Jamie cleared a path through the crowd. People instinctively retreated, fearing the bite of teeth, the pounding of hooves, and the gleaming blade. As the crowd fell away, Jamie and Claire galloped forward, leaving behind the loch, the village of Cranesmuir, and even the safety of Castle Leoch. Claire struggled to catch her breath, the impact knocking it out of her, as she fought to find her voice, to scream out to Jamie.