Outlander: The Hidden Villain, Arch Bug

Since his introduction in The Fiery Cross, nobody would have suspected that Arch Bug would become a villain. If some hints were given, they were subtlety written. However, in A Breath of Snow and Ashes, some hints are given about his wickedness and his vengeful nature. In this post, I will include many quotations in order to demonstrate certain subtleties that readers probably overlook the first time. There is a scene in which Claire is examining Arch’s hand and musing how plastic amputated parts of the body can be. Arch reveals that the Fraser of Glenhelm removed two fingers from one of his hands.

“Not the Frasers of Lovat,” he assured him. “Bobby Fraser of Glenhelm, and his nephew. Leslie, his name was.”

“Oh? Well, that’s good,” Jamie replied, one eyebrow lifted. “I shouldna like to hear it was close kin of mine.”

Arch chuckled, almost soundlessly. His eyes still gleamed bright in their webs of wrinkled skin, but there was something in that laugh that made me want suddenly to step back a little.” (ch. 23)

Arch Bug was trained as an archer at a young age according to Jamie.

“I did hear my father tell of the archers,” Jamie said. “At Glenshields. Many of them Grants, he said – and some Campbell.” He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, interested in the story, but wary. (A Breath of Snow and Ashes, ch. 23)

“So when the Frasers would capture a Grant alone on their land, it was their habit to give him a choice. He could lose his right eye, or the twa fingers of his right hand. Either way, he wouldna draw a bow again against them.” (A Breath of Snow and Ashes, ch. 23)

These passages emphasize where Arch’s loyalty lies. He belongs to clan Grant. The reader also learns that Black Brian was at Glenshields according to Arch.

Aye, your faither fought there, too, a Sheaumais,” he added, pointing the stem of his pipe at Jamie. “He was one o’ those by the river.” A spam of silent laughter shook him. (A Breath of Snow and Ashes, ch. 23)

At this stage the author confirms that Arch does not like Jamie, and he is not fond of Frasers. Arch’s laughter could be considered malicious, nervous and intimidating.

Arch’s dislike for Jamie is not only related to the fact that he was son of Black Brian and a Fraser. As a loyal member of clan Grant, Arch does not like MacKenzies neither.

“My uncle thought to mend just such a matter wi’ the Grants, by marrying my mother to the Grant. Unfortunately,” he added, turning over a page, “my mother wasna inclined to cooperate. She snubbed Malcolm Grant, stabbed my uncle Dougal, and eloped wi’ my father, instead.” (A Breath of Snow and Ashes, ch. 60)

It is obvious that there were tensions between the MacKenzies and the Grants. This is another reason why Arch does not like Jamie, a reminder that the laird of Clan Grant was snubbed by a MacKenzie.

More chilling is the subtle revelation that the Frasers at Glenhelm were killed by Arch. This assassination is not obvious when one is reading this chapter for the first time. It becomes clearer with a second read.

“No Frasers at Glehelm, ye said?” Jamie asked thought-fully, looking down at Mr. Bug. “Leslie, the nephew – he would have been Bobby Fraser’s heir, would he?” (A Breath of Snow and Ashes, ch. 23)

“Both killed together, were they? I mind my father telling of it, once. Found in a stream, their heads caved in, he said.” (A Breath of Snow and Ashes, ch. 23)

Of course, Arch used the axe to carry out his revenge.

“Weel, ye see, a Sheaumeais,” he said, “a bow’s like a good-wife, aye? Knows her master, and answers his touch. An ax, though – “He shook his head. “An ax is a whore. Any man can use one – and it works as well in either hand.”(A Breath of Snow and Ashes, ch. 23)

Of note is the timing in which Richard Brown goes to arrest Claire and Jamie for “murdering” Malva. Does Arch play a role in the arrest? If not, what about his wife, Murdina?

. . . I didn’t know whether Richard Brown had chosen his timing, or merely been lucky. Ian was gone, hunting with his Cherokee friends. Arch was plainly gone, as well, or he would be visible – Arch and his ax would be uncommonly handy just now, I thought. (A Breath of Snow and Ashes, ch. 87)

Of note is Claire’s musing of Arch’s absence. It seems that he purposely selected this time  frame not only to steal the gold but also to avoid confrontation with Richard Brown.

The only issue with this assessment is that Arch really tells Jamie that he is a man of his word, and that he has been loyal to his chief, to James Stuart and also to King George once the Jacobite Rebellion fell. He also acknowledges that he swore an oath to Jamie, the main reason why he never attempted murdering him (A Breath of Snow and Ashes, ch. 124). Is Arch telling the truth here?

In An Echo In the Bone, while protecting Hermione and Ermintrude, Ian observes that somebody has been taking care of Arch after the death of Murdina.

. . . His white hair was neatly bound up, and he seemed, so far as Ian could see, to have taken no harm from the winter. Must have found folk to bide with. Where? he wondered. Brownsville, maybe? Bloody dangerous, if he’d told the Browns about the gold – but he thought old Arch was too downy a bird to talk in such company.

Did Arch have an association with the Browns before Claire and Jamie got arrested? Of interest is the fact that he author has italicized the words in the given passage. At this stage, it is possible to speculate that Richard Brown might be making an appearance in a subsequent book.

Works Cited

Gabaldon, Diana. A Breath of Snow and Ashes. 2005. New York: Bantam Dell. 2006. Print.

– – -. An Echo in the Bone. 2009. New York: Bantam Dell. 2011. Print.