Not so simple after all

As soon as they arrived in the frontier town of Bakthiyo, the hunters met with the mayor and the leader of the militia, and from the content of their conversation, it soon appeared things weren't going to be as simple as they thought.

- We lost half of the militia in an ambush. I know what you think, we got overconfident after our victory at the walls then acted foolishly but it wasn't like that! They used normal gorillas as bait to draw us to a farm then proceeded to bombard us from afar! And when the second platoon came to break the encirclement, they used their smaller brethren as meat shield to run away.

- That looks more like raiders than animals.

- Exactly, and that's not the worst part since that incident we all changed our equipment to longbow and used carts with wooden sides and arrow slits. And what happened?

- Did they run?

- Exactly, now whenever we come in pursuit, they simply run away.

- You must understand we did not call for hunters but for the army. The lord is the one who decided not to turn our request to the army. Both us and the damn gorillas have forced into hit-and-run tactics for weeks now and unless we get serious numbers, it's never going to end.

- Sorry about that. You are quite right with your assumption, with the size of our team we are also limited to hit and run tactics, and if the enemy flees whenever threatened, it will take months to get them all.

- Exactly, I am not criticizing you there, but we have no need for a small team, we need hundreds to deal with this situation.

Belina point at something on the map.

- Just one question, do they cross this river?

- I know what you want to say. Yes, the fords are surrounded by too many obstacles to guard the places properly.

- Have you thought about using a boat?

- It's too shallow and rocky for that, the river can only be navigated by barges for most its length, and here and there it is so shallow it can be crossed by foot.

- Apart from calling the army, the only plausible solution is to construct guard posts on the fords.

- Oh, and how exactly do you propose to do that?

- We build them here and use barges to transport them. In fact, we only need to refit some barges and ground them on the shallow parts of the river.

- That sounds plausible, but the cost... I mean, not only we lose two barges but we also have to pay for the refitting.

- You can also wait for the army and deal with their raids until they come.

- It's not just the raids you know, those animals are crazy, they kill and eat everything. Just as you said earlier, they are like raiders pillaging a region then moving on to another.

- So we can assume that just like raiders if the risks become too high they'll move somewhere else.

- Did you identify a leader?

- Absolutely, but there's no point in targetting him, he never gets anywhere near the danger.

- You were right, they clearly are not monkeys, they act just like humans, all the worst parts.

- Then, do you agree with our idea?

- I don't see what choice we have... But do you really think a wooden structure will withstand their attacks?

- Did you ever use anti-fume masks to fight?

The construction took Belina and the carpenters almost three weeks, during this time the two vanguards ran patrols around the farms shooting the apes from afar whenever they encountered them, with almost no casualties among the raiders. But their actions were not in vain, it helped reduce the numbers of attacks and forced the giant gorillas to act more carefully.

It was finally time for the floating keeps to be deployed. Because of the flat bottom, they were designed with low incline roofs, covered with spikes and arrow slits on all side. One each side, there were larger opening with tubes, it was the hunter's secret weapon in case the primates chose to attack the boats rather than flee.

But there was one last problem to solve, guide both barge to their destination. Indeed, the tree density along the river did not allow the use of sailing, meaning the only solution was to use draft animals or people.

Even with the help of shield bearers and the protection of the floating fortress, it was still a very dangerous task, and the hunters could only hope that the constant threat of arrows over the last weeks had made the giant beast warry enough.

The vanguard and the best shots in the militia are walking bow and arrow in hands and all around them are the strongest men, holding tall shields ready to form a wall at any moment. They are leading four small yet muscular horses, wearing an unusual harness, the tow-horses, both critical components of this mission and its most uncertain element.

Indeed if those farm animals were to catch the smell of the giant gorilla, they would immediately panic and flee the area beaching the barge, probably damaging it in the process, and no amount of people protecting them will change that. This is why, a militia-man is standing near the animals at all time, ready to cut the rope.

- How much more?

- Two leagues.

- That means we will reach our destination in around one summer hour right?

- Roughly yes.

- The tension is killing me.

Another militia-man ask.

- Can't we change with the guys on the boat?

- No, we can't, they are the best with sieges weapons! Now stop asking stupid questions, you coward.

- I'm a coward? Let see how you fare carrying one of those goddamn shields for hours!

- Will you all shut-up, we're detectable enough as we are, there is no need to scream our position as well!

- Sorry ma'am

- If you can't carry your shield anymore, put it on your back, better lose time setting it up than dropping it at the worst moment.

- Yes, ma'am, I am so nervous it makes me lose strength.

- Just do as I said.

Arc and Chris were both mad at the men talking out loud without a care in the world, did they forget where they were? Arc whispered in Chris hear.

- Damn fools, it's not like the primates are the only threat in the forest.

- They just might be, considering the way they consume and kill everything.

- Strangely, that does not make me happy.

They reached their destination, and now their mini floating fortress is barring access to the nearest ford from the city. All hoped that the primates, rather than use the second ford much further south, would simply choose to leave the area entirely. As for the hunter, they were confident in their secret weapon and wished for a fight, the most lucrative option of all.

There was one last option, one none of the people involved wanted to consider because it meant they'd be stuck there for a while. Simply put, for the ape to go the long way and continue their raids. If that were to happen, the second armored barge would set in a week, bringing supply before moving to protect the second access.

Its task accomplished, the escort group minus the vanguards said wished good luck to those remaining and returned to the city.