One of the pirates cursed something.  Gerld couldn't hear the man over the building roar of the flames, but the venom in his voice was clear.  No doubt the figure was using language that would make an old woman blush, or bring down the thunder(It was hard to tell with old women.)  The man raised a sword and swung at him.  It didn't connect with anything but air.  For the pirate's honest effort, he was launched across the room, into a wall, where he hit with a sickening thud.  He slid down and made no effort to stand.

He countered another pirate's raised gun with a rock, and a precise blow to the temple.  The man crumpled to the floor in a heap of sweat and body hair.  "So many damn pirates," Gerld muttered.

The fisherwoman hurried past him.  She said something about people and fighting.  He didn't bother to respond, because he figured she wasn't interested in fighting him, unless there was a brand new martial art that centered on showing your back to someone while you run with a bunch of limp bodies tied on.  

[@The Irish Tree]
"Hey!  Hey!"  The small skinny man with big eyes jumped and pointed as the fisherwoman made off with the majority of their entertainment.  "What are you guys doing?  Don't just waste all your energy with the old man.  There's a perfectly good fisherwoman and weapon users getting away!"

"Sir!  We'd love to get them, but" the pirate started before finding Gerld's fist pumped into his eye.  The pirate went limp.

"Ugh!"  The second in command shouted.  Frowning, he turned and hurried off after the fisherwoman.  He moved far faster than his thin form hinted at and was easily able to maneuver out of Gerld's outstretched arm.  

As he closed the distance on the fisherwoman.  His fingers twisted into claws.  When he reached her, he full intended on taking off her head. 

Tree captives back in their cells were better than none, and none was what he was afraid of if the woman managed to get to the water.  

[@Crimson Lion]
"Ugg!"  The lighthouse pirate's fist's creaked from the pressure.  Frowning, he watched the ship burning.  There wasn't any way to save it.  There wasn't any way to save any of the ships.  Whatever, or whoever he presumed, started the fire had done a thorough job.  They'd seen to it that the ships burning would take just long enough to pull at the pirate's attention before bursting into flaming pieces of debris which wouldn't be saved.

"Damn it!"  The giant shouted as he slammed his cap onto the ground.  

"Somebody! Ppp-lease help me!"  A thin voice called among a sudden splashing nearby. 

"Oh."  The captain's eyes narrowed as he noted a figure flailing at the water, one of their captives.  "Well I'll be damned.  Looks like that idiot Wolly let the dogs out."  With a snap of his fingers, the captain pointed at the struggling man.  "Alright.  Let's go and pick him up.  At the very least we'll need some fighters to try and recuperate for today's loss."  The man whistled and motioned for the others to follow him in their rowboats.

*****
A long line of red appeared on Gerld's face.  It started at the temple and ran down to his chin.  

"Not so tough now, huh, old man!"  One of the pirate's, a brash youth with black teeth and bug eyes, sneered as he hopped back before Gerld could knock his head off.  "Looks  like someone's getting a bit winded, eh?"

Gerld fought off the temptation to clutch at his chest.  Instead he stood up to his full height and glared down at the grunt.  

"You ain't so tough."  The grunt's grin widened.  Several of the pirates which he thought were knocked out started getting to their feet.  A few others moved in, swords held out in front of them.  "You're barely standing.  Look at how hard that chest is heaving.  At this rate you'll be lucky if just standing up won't lead to a heart att..."

The pirate stopped.  His jaw dropped.  Then his eyes rolled into the back of his head and the rest of him fell.

"Hey there!"  A short woman with purple hair nodded.  "You're Gerld, right?"