Maknab's Revenge

By Anna Markland

A medieval romance novella from USA Today bestselling author, Anna Markland. Ingram Maknab plans to avenge past wrongs by ruining the reputation of Gray Buchan's daughter, Ruby. She unwittingly plays into his hands. But revenge is rarely sweet and Ingram hasn't counted on losing his heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anna Markland
• Release date: Apr 19, 2015
• ISBN: 9781386766759

Book preview

MAKNAB’S REVENGE

By ANNA MARKLAND

©Copyright Anna Markland 2014

All Rights Reserved

Cover Art by Steven Novak

To find the hero of this novella I reached back to SWEET TASTE OF LOVE, the love story of Aidan FitzRam and Nolana Kyncade. At the end of that tale, Ingram Maknab, Nolana’s half brother, appears on the scene to carry home his dead father’s body. I often wondered what happened to Ingram after that. His name alone fascinated me.

He was a natural for this story.

His heroine is Rubaidh Buchan, known as Ruby, and I dedicate this book to my spunky granddaughter Ruby Blake.

©Anna Markland 2014

All Rights Reserved

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the author.

All fictional characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author and all incidents are pure invention.

MORE ANNA MARKLAND

If you prefer to read sagas in chronological order, here’s a handy list for the Montbryce family books.

Conquering Passion—Ram and Mabelle, Rhodri and Rhonwen (audiobook available)

If Love Dares Enough—Hugh and Devona, Antoine and Sybilla

Defiant Passion-Rhodri and Rhonwen

A Man of Value—Caedmon and Agneta

Dark Irish Knight—Ronan and Rhoni

Haunted Knights—Adam and Rosamunda, Denis and Paulina

Passion in the Blood—Robert and Dorianne, Baudoin and Carys

Dark and Bright—Rhys and Annalise

The Winds of the Heavens—Rhun and Glain, Rhydderch and Isolda

Dance of Love—Izzy and Farah

Carried Away—Blythe and Dieter

Sweet Taste of Love—Aidan and Nolana

Wild Viking Princess—Ragna and Reider

Hearts and Crowns—Gallien and Peridotte

Fatal Truths—Alex and Elayne

Sinful Passions—Bronson and Grace; Rodrick and Swan

Series featuring the stories of the Viking ancestors of my Norman families

The Rover Bold—Bryk and Cathryn

The Rover Defiant—Torstein and Sonja

The Rover Betrayed—Magnus and Judith

Caledonia Chronicles (Scotland)

Book I Pride of the Clan—Rheade and Margaret

Book II Highland Tides—Braden and Charlotte

Book 2.5 Highland Dawn—Keith and Aurora (a Kindle Worlds book)

Book III Roses Among the Heather—Blair &Susanna, Craig & Timothea

The Von Wolfenberg Dynasty (medieval Europe)

Book 1 Loyal Heart—Sophia and Brandt

Book 2 Courageous Hearts—Luther and Francesca

Book 3 Faithful Heart—Kon and Zara

MYTH AND MYSTERY

The Taking of Ireland—Sibràn and Aislinn

17TH CENTURY

Highland Betrayal—Morgan and Hannah (audiobook available)

CLASH OF THE TARTANS

Kilty Secrets—Ewan and Shona

Kilted at the Altar—Darroch and Isabel

Kilty Pleasures—Coming soon

Novellas

Maknab’s Revenge—Ingram and Ruby

Passion’s Fire—Matthew and Brigandine

Banished—Sigmar and Audra

Hungry Like De Wolfe—Blaise and Anne—Kindle Worlds

Unkissable Knight—Dervenn and Victorine

KOLBRAND'S PATH

Scotland, Summer 1130 AD

Ingram Maknab sensed the moment he crossed into the Lowlands of Scotland. There was no cairn, no outpost of men in playd to indicate he’d left Northumbria, but the certainty seeped into his bones. He was back in the land of his birth after ten years in exile.

He reined his horse to a halt, looking to the rolling hills in the distance. Beyond lay his birthright. Another day’s ride to Kolbrand’s Path, he growled to his lieutenant. We’ll camp here.

Aye, Finn Borthwick replied with equal gruffness. A flick of his wrist signaled the captain of the brigade to organize his soldiers.

A stranger might believe the two men were nothing more than master and servant, but Ingram would be long dead were it not for his maternal uncle.

They exchanged barely a word as canvas shelters were pegged to the damp ground, horses fed and watered, campfires lit.

Soldiers disappeared into the gathering darkness of the nearby wood, returning with bulging water skins and hares and rabbits they’d snared. Bread and cheese were pulled from saddlebags. The flames had died down sufficiently to provide embers for roasting and the men were ravenous after their long ride from Grouchet Castle.

Within a half hour, Ingram and Finn perched on campstools, elbows on knees, sinking their teeth into the juicy meat the red-faced camp cook had provided. Nearby, men shared a jest, horses nickered.

Nothing like a tasty hare fattened on sweet lowland grasses, Finn said, swiping the grease from his bearded chin with the back of his hand.

Ingram chuckled. That’s the longest string of words you’ve uttered in the nine years since we fled Kolbrand’s Path together. But you’re right. We’ll have it served as the first meal when we reclaim what’s rightfully ours.

Rightfully yours, lad, Finn said taking a swig of mead from the wineskin Ingram’s brother-by-marriage had supplied. Fine mead Aidan FitzRam brews, he observed, handing the wineskin to Ingram. Your sister did well to wed him.

Aye, he agreed, feeling the familiar surge of brotherly love whenever Nolana was mentioned. It was she who’d granted him stewardship of Grouchet, the Northumbrian estate inherited from her first husband. It had given him a purpose. They’d been born of different fathers, she in the highlands and he in the lowlands, but they shared a deep bond.

The years of working to improve the neglected lands with Finn’s help had made him a wealthy and well-respected man. But Grouchet Castle wasn’t his and never would be, despite Nolana’s insistence it was Ingram’s in all but name.

Kolbrand’s Path should have been his.

Some say FitzRam mead rivals that of Lindisfarne Abbey, though the monks would disagree, Finn said with a smile.

The cook emerged from the darkness and offered Ingram a dock leaf overflowing with wild blueberries. I can vouch for it, he declared, and naught goes better with mead than these. Angus picked them yonder. Ye can share, if you please.

Finn waved him away, patting his belly. Nay, lad. I’m replete. You can have the purple tongue.

Had a feeling of homecoming released Finn’s sense of humor from its long sleep, or was he as agitated as Ingram at what lay ahead? Mayhap a purple tongue will convince Gray Buchan of my noble worth and my right to have back what he stole.

Finn fixed his steely gaze on his nephew. Nay, laddie. ‘Tis your courage and the strength of these men who ride with ye that’ll achieve that.

~~~

Fisted hands on hips, Rubaidh Blake Buchan rolled her eyes up to the gallery overlooking the Great Hall of Kolbrand’s Path then glared at her father. "I will not marry an auld man."

She frowned when he didn’t reply. Instead Gray Buchan eased both hands under his knee and cautiously levered his bandaged foot off the stool wadded with cushions. Despite her anger, she breathed again when his foot came to rest on the planked floor without the usual wince of pain distorting his face. He leaned forward heavily, both hands atop his cane, shoulders hunched. You will wed Darach Conran, Ruby, and that’s my final word.

This wasn’t going according to plan. He stinks.

Hold your nose then, lassie. King David wants the marriage.

A pox on King David.

He brandished his cane, wobbling alarmingly on the chair. Fie, daughter! But for this cursed affliction of kings, I’d chase ye down and put ye over my knee for yer treasonous insolence.

She stuck out her tongue. Ha!

Her spluttering father came close to losing his balance completely. Brazen hussy. ‘Tis a punishable offence to stick out yer tongue at yer laird.

She was instantly contrite. Age had not been kind to her father. Once a brawny, imposing figure, he’d deteriorated into a lame caricature of his former self. But she loved him still. He was right—a girl shouldn’t stick out her tongue at her laird.

She came to kneel demurely before him and took his hand. "Forgive me, dadaidh," she murmured.

Honey usually proved more persuasive when she wanted something from her sire. Feared by those he ruled at Kolbrand’s Path, he’d denied her nothing since her mother’s death fifteen years before. Forgive me, she repeated, pleading with her eyes, knowing they reminded him of the wife he’d mourned since the day of her death.

He patted the back of her hand, his brow furrowed. This time ye’ll not get yer own way, Ruby. Ye’ll meet Darach at the door of the chapel and that’s that.

She huffed to her feet. I’ll run away first.

Her father settled his foot back onto the cushions. And where will ye run to?

She stuck out her