Grayson and his men were also up before the sun broke over the mountain peaks. Breaking camp and mounting up, they followed River Sheil to the mouth and turned west, to ride along the shore to a narrow crossing of Strath Duich, shallow enough for them to traverse it. They were just making their way along the coast of Loch Duich, when the sound of cannon fire broke the misty morning silence, sending wildlife fleeing from their safe positions. Grayson knew immediately that the battle had started, despite the plans to wait for their arrival. He broke his horse into a full gallop, the others following close behind him in formation. Again a cannon roared and echoed down the loch to them, signalling their need to make all speed for the castle.
Garreth had made his way across land in the night, sliding the birlinn over the rough, sandy ground, until it was in the waters of Loch Long. They had quietly rowed across, north of the castle, as Cameron Stewart had suggested. They went back and forth bringing men over quietly, until a hundred men were across. Peadair MacLeod had taken two birlinns with forty men in each and sailed out and around the castle to avoid detection in the night, mooring south of the castle. With the cover of the thick woods, they had made their way to the castle and had set up positions to attack from.
Five men found the entrance to the castle through the underground passage Lady Anne told them about and entered, walking through the dank, wet tunnel until they came to the store room entrance and waited. Another contingent of men stayed on the point, waiting for the signal to surprise attack from the loch side and raise ladders when the signal was given.
Seeing a lack of movement, Garreth gave the order for two men to make it to the wall and raise their ladder, hoping the MacRae's inside weren't alert while on guard. The plan had gone well, until one of the MacRae men heard their movement trying to raise a ladder against the curtain wall close to the bridge. Arrows were let loose at them and the alarm sounded. The men escaped back to the bridge and hid behind it, but their element of surprise was broken and now a siege under fire was upon them. The ladder, so carefully positioned, was tossed back down and afforded no chance of scaling the walls now. Blair MacRae and the others were quickly positioned on the land side of the castle, where the attack came from. They saw the men in the woods and fired the small cannons into the woods in hopes of dispersing them and driving them from their point of attack.
Garreth ordered his men to stay under the cover of the forest, until all the men were in place and ready to attack. One of the MacDonnell clansmen climbed high in an oak tree to peer over the rampart walls to spy on the men in the castle and distinguish their numbers. Watching their movements, he could only see seven men positioning themselves along the walls. Using hand signals, he informed Garreth below, that he could only see the seven and no others.
The tide was in Garreth's favour and afforded them free crossing over the soggy ground along the bridge and stay under the cover of it. He looked across and saw the birlinns waiting for the signal to come across and then down the loch to where Peadair and his men were readied. Feeling it was time to make the charge, he ordered the flaming arrow sent up as the signal to charge. With the sight of it streaking across the sky, a volley of arrows were released, the sky blackened with their numbers, forcing the MacRae's to seek cover.
Garreth and his men charged over the slippery surface of the lichen coated ground, his men stumbling and falling, trying to make it to the bridge and safety. The MacRae's rose again and took aim at them, letting their own arrows fly. Several men dropped and lay dead, but most made it to cover. Four men carrying ladders, stood at the front of the
others, waiting for the signal for covering fire, to race up and raise the ladders against the wall. Garreth signalled to Peadair, who had his men fire another volley of arrows. As they watched them pass overhead, the four men climbed the embankment and raced for the wall. They made it safely, but were struck down by arrows as they started to raise them. Once more he signalled for covering fire and hundreds of arrows streaked at the castle. They collected the dead and wounded and brought them back out of the line of fire, before tending to them and await orders from Garreth.
Grayson heard the echoed shouts of men in the distance and continued riding as hard as he could. Following the coast, he could see the birlinns moored along the shore and recognized them. Knowing there were enough men to attack, he was still discouraged they hadn't waited for their arrival. Nearing the battle zone, two men came from the woods and halted his progress. Grayson reined hard on his horse to stop, the other riders doing the same.
"Laird Grayson, ye've made good time. Laird Garreth was hoping we'd ha'e the castle taken by the time ye arrived. The Stewart's brought all the troops yesterday, and a plan was made tae attack at first light." Robert MacDonald told his cousin.
"Who's being fired upon by cannon?" Grayson asked him, looking ahead to see what was happening.
"The MacRae's opened fire on us, but their shots were just tae scare us. No one was killed or hurt by them, but we've lost a few men tae arras. The charge tae the wall has just begun, but we can'ne raise the ladders yet. Young Cameron Stewart came up wi' a good plan of attack, and so far, it's working." his cousin relayed the events so far.
"Dismount and leave yer horses here. we'll go on foot and join the attack." Grayson shouted back to his men.
In moments, a hundred and fifty riders were dismounted and following Grayson through the thick woods towards the place where Garreth's archers were stationed. They arrived beside them and received a hearty welcome from the men. He found Peadair and walked to him.
"When I give the signal, Peadair, let loose a volley, so we can reach Garreth and his men. When we do, I'll give another signal tae fire and keep firing until the ladders are raised and the men are up. Don'ne stop until I give the order, is that understood?" Grayson commanded, showing the signal he would make with his sword.
"Aye, my Laird. We'll be ready fer the signal." Peadair nodded in a bow, then joined his men and readied a flight.
Grayson could see Garreth was pinned down and no hope of reaching the wall without losing many men in the process. He turned and signalled with his sword to release the volley, breaking cover and charging over the slippery ground to reach Garreth. Garreth saw Grayson coming and smiled at his friend making his way to him. Grayson rushed up and lay on the damp earth beside him, his men taking shelter under the arches of the bridge along with the others.
"Garreth, good tae see ye again. Looks like ye ha'e a wee problem on yer hands." Grayson said jokingly.
"Aye Grayson. Ye made good time getting here. Would ye like tae join me in a morning stroll up tae the castle?" Garreth joked back.
"Och, is this the best ye can do fer me? Just a wee stroll? How about we say hello properly and show the MacRae's some hospitality the MacDonald way?" Grayson replied. keeping up the lighthearted talk.
"What do ye ha'e in mind?" Garreth asked him.
