In this excerpt from "Drums of Autumn" by Diana Gabaldon, Lizzie is struck by a chilling transformation of Brianna, who appears ghostly and menacing. The once gentle and kind figure is now obscured by a dark essence, turning her into something otherworldly, akin to a demon. This change leaves a significant impact on Lizzie, who has grown up in a different time and has always been aware of the haunting tales of fierceness and fury among the Highland clans.
As a town girl born after the events of Culloden, Lizzie has never personally witnessed the wild nature of Highlanders consumed by rage, but the stories she has heard resonate with her now. The sight of Brianna's altered appearance convinces her that anyone could be capable of unimaginable actions under certain circumstances. The passage reflects Lizzie's confrontation with her fears and the terrifying reality that lies beneath familiar faces.