Chapter 10 -:o What ever happened to Silke Rosena? o:-

It was the third day of Mirtul, high noon.

Imoen had taken it upon herself to act as a scout and had run off some time ago. Ged was walking with Khalid, listening the gentle warrior's description of his youth in faraway Calimshan, where he had grown up as an unwanted offspring of a elven concubine and a rich merchant.

Montaron and Xzar walked behind them, quarreling about something like usual. Jaheira followed several paces behind the pair, keeping a wary eye on both the couple and the bushes for any ambush attempts.

As they came closer to the crossroads, Ged remembered the strange old man they had met. Wondering if they should ever meet him again, the young wizard took a hearty swig out of his waterskin.

"Oghma help me! It's hot!" he mumbled to no one in particular.

"It is, isn't it? The s-sun, I mean." Khalid said. "Y-you mentioned Oghma. Do you follow the tenets of the Luh-Lord of Knowledge?" the warrior inquired.

"No." Ged answered without much reflection. "I mean, I respect him more than most gods, except Mystra and Azuth of course, but I don't consider myself very religious." he added hastily, seeing Khalid's quizzical look.

"In a way I recognize the power and majesty of the deities, but I want to decide my own course. Make my own destiny." Ged continued on his train of thought, his hand straying inside his shirt to touch the silver medallion.

"Heh. I know w-what you mean." The warrior said after a moment of silence. "Jaheira is the religious one. M-me, I respect the gods but d-don't follow the tenets of any single deity. I am cuh-content to leave the g-grand ideas and cuh-concepts to smarter people than me. Suh-simple soldier Khalid, t-that's me!"

Ged smiled back and was about to ask the warrior about Jaheira's druidic ways when their chat was rudely interrupted.

Several scruffy looking men jumped from the bushes, clad in leather armor and wielding swords and bows.

"Righty-o!" one of them yelled out, a tall blond man with several missing teeth and armed with a bastard sword he wielded with both of his hands.

"Drop yer weapons and hand over yer jools an' coins, do that an' perhaps we'll let ye live. After some fun wiv' yon lady, of course." he indicated towards Jaheira, making an obscene gesture that made several of his fellows laugh nastily.

"Stinking brigands, you'll get neither!" the warrior-druid yelled angrily. She retreated a few steps and uttered a short prayer to Silvanus.

Khalid drew his blade and charged the leader, who was momentarily taken aback by the furious attack.

"Stick 'em, lads!" another bandit shouted, and the bow wielders let their shafts fly. Ged dodged the one arrow which had been shot towards him and began the short chant that Armor needed to be cast.

Xzar and Montaron were both hit, Xzar rather severely. Jaheira drew most of the fire, but miraculously she emerged unscathed. Montaron, only grazed, cursed and expertly flung one of his daggers at the bandit who had hit him. The man fell, the short blade in his throat.

The bandits' war cries changed into screams of surprise and horror as Jaheira's prayer caused the very roots to rise up through the earth to snag their legs and hold them in place. Several of the stronger bandits struggled free, but most were held fast. Ged also completed his spell and felt the protective aura surround him.

He again tried to reach inside him, attempting to find that comforting cold drive which had guided him in his first battles. He couldn't find it, but this time he didn't panic. His heart raced and he was afraid, but the fear didn't cripple him. Reaching inside his pouch, he prepared to cast Sleep at the largest group of entangled bandits.

Khalid had gauged the skill of his opponent in his first few careful strikes, as was his style. His method of fighting was cautious, preferring to allow his enemy to make the over reaching mistakes that then proved fatal. Many of his foes had mistaken the half-elf's passivity and defensiveness as either cowardice or lack of skill. Not many had survived their error.

The bandit leader proved to be no exception. Laughing savagely, he lunged at Khalid with his long blade raised above his head. The nimble half-elf stepped aside and let the bandit impale himself on the half-elf's waiting sword. The man bellowed in pain and surprise, keeling over and dying shortly after.

Xzar had ripped off the two arrows that had struck him, worsening his wounds, which now bled freely. The madman didn't seem to be in any serious discomfort however, and cast a spell on one of the bandits now fighting with Jaheira.

A small shimmering globe shimmered from his hands and hit the bandit, who gasped in pain. Some of Xzar's wounds closed and the bleeding stopped.

Ged also finished casting, causing the entangled bandits and the one wounded by Xzar to fall over, fast asleep.

Montaron drew his sword and charged the prone forms.

"Look out!" Imoen's from behind the trees, where the road turned.

Ged smiled grimly. Of course Imoen should choose this moment to return, when they had all but won the battle.

"It's an ogre!"

Indeed it was, as Imoen stumbled in midst of the ongoing melee, Ged could hear the enraged bellows and thundering footsteps following her behind the curve of the road.

"Whoa! Who are these creeps!" she yelled, crouching under one bandit's wild swing and drawing her dagger.

Jaheira killed her foe with an almost contemptous blow in the throat, crushing her opponents adam's apple with her staff. "Khalid! The ogre!" she screamed at her husband, who had similarily finished his own opponent, a short bearded bandit who had managed to survive several moments longer against the half-elf than his late leader.

Again, Xzar cast his life draining spell, this time at the last bandit who was trying to kill Imoen. The bald-headed brigand screamed in pain and fell even as the green clad mage sighed in pleasure, watching the last of his wounds mend.

Then the ogre lumbered into view.

Montaron was slitting the throat of the last sleeping bandit, when he heard Jaheira's warning. The ogre spotted him. Scoffing, the halfling tried to scamper towards his companions, but was held fast by something.

The vines! Jaheira's enchantment was still in force and the undisciplined halfling was now stuck amidst the dead brigands!

Imoen shot a quick pair of arrows, but they didn't seem to penetrate the ogre's thick hide.

Jaheira's expertly aimed sling stone had better results, and hit the beast right in it's open mouth in mid-scream. Ged winced as he heard teeth snap and the ogre snarl in pain and anger, spitting out tooth shards.

Their attempts to deflect the brute from Montaron hadn't succeeded, however. Even as Khalid rushed the beast, it's great club landed with bone crushing force on the halfling's struggling form. Montaron's scream of rage was cut short by the sickening crash of the ogre's blow.

Khalid reached the beast and swung a mighty blow intended to sever the mighty humanoid's right leg from the knee. Unfortunately the beast had cobbled together some sort of improvised leg armor, and Khalid's blow was deflected and the half-elf knocked off balance for a moment.

The ogre kicked him, sending the warrior stumbling backwards, the breath knocked out of his lungs.

Even as the ogre towered over Khalid, intending to smash the warrior with it's club, Jaheira interposed herself with the monster and her husband, thrusting out her staff like a spear, and hitting a painful blow against the ogre's ribs.

Ged edged closer, intending to reach Montaron and drag him away. Imoen took a more careful aim, and sunk an arrow in the ogre's chest.

Enraged, the beast tried to smash Jaheira, but the druidess was much too quick on her feet, dodging the blow and giving the clumsy ogre another painful bruise, this time across it's head. Khalid had recovered somewhat, and was circling the beast while his wife kept it occupied.

The half-elves were obviously used to fighting together and didn't need any verbal communication to implement this tactic. Jaheira's last blow had wounded the beast in the face and it's left eye was swollen shut. Noticing the blind spot, Khalid wielded his sword like a huge dagger and plunged it to the hilt in the ogre's back like some outsized assassin's dagger. Mortally wounded, the beast twisted and tried to swat the warrior but Khalid jumped back and the great club connected with nothing but air.

Everyone backed away, not eager to get hurt in the monstrous humanoid's death throes. Giving a last, pained whimper the brute tumbled over.

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Montaron was alive, and had woken up after Jaheira had healed his wounded chest with her magic. The halfling wasn't feeling particularly grateful, and had rewarded the half-elf's kindness with an obscene remark.

Ged had intended to furiously berate the little lout, but after seeing Jaheira's non-reaction to the insult, he had stifled his anger and expressed his admiration of the half-elves' actions during and after the battle to her instead.

"Think nothing of it." was her reply.

Seeing the astonished look on the young wizard's face, she smiled ever so slightly and sighed, wiping sweat off her brow.

"Don't get me wrong, Gedragon. I don't like those two, and I certainly don't trust them, but for the moment we are allies and I would never abandon one in the middle of combat." she said, inspecting the pile of loot they had got from both the bandit's and the ogre.

The bandit's had travelled light, and carried nothing more than their armor and weapons, but the ogre had been richer. It's sack was stuffed with at least fifteen diffrent belts of varying design, in addition to several silver necklaces and one ring with a small obsidian stone. It had also possessed some fifty three gold coins.

"We better hold on to these belts, you can check them for any magical aura they might possess later." the druidess remarked, shoving the sack to Ged.

"Do not try any of them on, and make sure that the girl understands this also. Cursed items have been the bane of many overeager young hero." she said, glancing to the approaching girl.

"I'm sorry I missed those rumduke brigands, squatting in the thicket like they were rats or something!" she chirped, not looking very remorseful.

"I came to tell ya, that the big lunk lying over there attacked me as I was coming back to tell you about this queer fellow, standing on the road as if waiting for someone."

Ged was instantly alarmed, remembering the wizard who had attacked him and Imoen in the Friendly Arm.

"I don't think we have anything to worry about this guy." Imoen said, seeing her friend's expression.

"Why do you say that, child?" Jaheira demanded.

"Child? Yeesh!" Imoen scowled at the older woman's words. "He looked like a nobleman or something from the distance, not nasty like that creep who made me go blind!" she huffed in an indignant, wounded tone.

"Standing on the road... Hmph!" the druidess scoffed, not impressed with Imoen's wounded feelings.

"I suppose we shall have to pass him by, then. Be on your guard, both of you! And let me do the talking." she said, before walking to her husband.

"Bah! What's eating her? I come up with all this valuable information and she just pushes us around like we had to take her stinkin' orders or something!" Imoen remarked, pouting and casting resentful looks towards the druidess.

Ged just shook his head at his friend's outburst. Personally, he was glad that Jaheira was giving him some direction, someone whoknew how to deal with bandits and ogres and keep their troublesome travelling companions in line.

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Just like Imoen had told them, a young man was standing in the middle of the southbound road.

Khalid and Imoen led the companions, Ged was helping the still weak Montaron along and Xzar and Jaheira came last.

The young man's whole demeanor perked up visibly when he noticed the companions. He was dressed in what looked like some nobleman's castoffs, short blade on his hip. The foppish effect he projected was further complemented by the wide brimmed red hat, from which protuded an enormous feather of some exotic bird, and his hip length highboots, complete with stirrups.

Ged thought the youth looked absolutely ludicrous.

"Hail adventurers!" he greeted them, taking off his ridiculous hat and bowing with great flourish. There was something very theatrical in the way the fellow carried himself, even his voice sounded like he was acting out some part on the stage.

"I am Garrick, a bard of some renown." he continued, pausing for a moment to see if any of the companions recognized him. Not one of them did, and an alarming scowl had started to form on Jaheira's face.

The youth gulped hastily, before continuing. "Yes, I am sure you will hear of my exploits in the future. For now, I am seeking valiant heroes to aid my mistress, the great Silke Rosena!" again, Garrick waited for someone to recognize the name.

A moment of silence passed between the group and the young bard.

"Uh... Tell us of y-your mistress." Khalid said, giving the boy a polite, encouraging smile.

"I see that you haven't been following the world of performance art, sirs and madams! No matter, I am sure you will remember Silke after today!" the bard proclaimed, his eyes shining dreamily. "She is the finest thespian of the Sword Coast, perhaps the finest on Faerun! And her singing and dancing have been-"

The wounded halfling, his mood even fouler than it usually was due to his injury, decided that he had had enough of the boy's superlatives. "Shut yer trap, ye bleedin' dressed-up ninny! How much will yon actress pay fer our help, and remember I be talking gold and silver here, not bloody singin' or dancin'!"

The bard looked stricken for a moment, before answering. "I've been instructed to, ahem... offer three hundred coins of gold to any potential heroes! A kingly sum, I might say-" he grinned, but quickly sobered up as Montaron again cut in.

"Haw! Now that be sounding much better than all that rot ye spoke of first! We accept, who does yer mistress need fer us to kill!" the halfling snarled, drawing a delighted giggle from his partner.

"Wait one moment, you little fool! The boy said nothing about killing anyone!" Jaheira turned towards the sneering halfing, anger flashing in her eyes.

"Weeelll..." the bard replied, shifting his feet uneasily.

"I told ye! Fer that kind of reward, it's usually a matter of giving a dirtnap fer some poor bastard or two!" Montaron said, grinning triumphantly.

"No! I mean, it might come to violence! But if you manage to scare off the thugs who threatened my mistress, all the better!" the young bard cried, "I absolutely abhor violence." he added, casting a wounded look at Montaron, who had scoffed at his protestations.

"If it doesn't take long, we c-could probably use the muh-money, my dear." Khalid said to his wife softly, showing her his nicked and pitted weapon and worn chain mail.

"Oh very well then! Take us to this 'thespian', boy! But I warn you, if this turns out to be a trick..." the scowling druidess let her words trail off menacingly, and her meaning seemed to be clear to the bard, who paled visibly.

Garrick offered a weak grin and motioned the companions to follow him off the road, towards the nearby hills.

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A couple of colorful silk tents had been raised at the base of a green hill. Behind it rose the rosy red spires of the 'The Song of Morning', a great temple of Lathander the Morninglord, located slightly east of Beregost.

A woman was regarding the approaching companions and their guide from the camp, tapping her foot impatiently and occasionally glancing towards the direction of the town.

She was rather attractive, if sharp featured, having short, raven hair and dark eyes. The woman was dressed in much finer clothes than her young hireling, black trousers and red silk shirt with white lace cuffs. She was also carrying a fine staff made from white wood and capped with what looked like gold from both ends.

"Finally!" she yelled in a rather low and throaty voice for a woman of her slight build. "Garrick, I had almost given up hope!"

"Did my little Garrick explain the matter to you?" she asked Jaheira, as the companions gathered around her.

"Not fully, something about thugs who needed to be scared off." the warrior-druid answered, observing the other woman intently.

"Yes, I suppose he had to mention the reward to lure you here. Good." Silke said, a somewhat cruel smile forming on her lips.

"The thing is, some thugs which the local innkeeper hired, to try and force me to go and perform in his dingy little establishment, should be arriving shortly. Feldepost, that beast, thinks he can push me around!" she huffed, looking almost overtly angered considering her otherwise calm demeanor.

"Fuh-Feldepost? I-I thought he passed away, long time ago?" Khalid said, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. Jaheira showed no outward emotion, but glanced at her husband and nodded slightly.

Silke looked taken aback, shooting a furious look at Garrick and then silently observing the group for a moment.

"I meant his successor, how silly of me." she said, picking up a black silk sack from the ground. The ringing of coins could be heard as she gave it a slight shake.

"I see you are all men and women of principle, so I give you a fair warning! One of the men is a wizard, who possesses spells that can beguile you into believing anything he says. Strike immediatly, and don't believe what they say!" she hissed. "I'll raise your wage to four hundred gold coins, just do what I tell you to!"

"Mistress Rosena! They come!" Garrick yelled, frantically pointing towards the forest from where three men dressed in brightly colored clothes were approaching.

Jaheira pulled Ged close to her, and whispered to his ear. "Be on your guard, I smell trouble. That woman was lying, I am rather sure of it. Follow mine and Khalid's lead."

"Prepare!" Silke hissed, withdrawing behind the companions.

Xzar had his curved blade out and Montaron was leaning on the tall mage, a throwing dagger in his hand but everyone else kept their weapons sheathed or at least not pointing at the approaching men.

Ged noticed that the men were all middle-aged, rather well fed and none of them carried any visible arms. It was looking more and more like a setup.

As the men drew closer, two of them stayed back while the most opulently dressed timidly edged closer. Ged could see the man tremble at the sight of him and his friends.

"H-hello miss Rosena. I have the g-gems you-" he started speaking, his voice trembling.

"Shut up! Your magic won't work on these heroes! Attack them now!" Silke cut the man off, screaming.

The man paled and fell to his knees. "Puh-please! Take the gems, but spare me!" he wailed, even as Montaron raised his hand, preparing to throw his knife at the kneeling man.

Jaheira reacted swiftly, hitting the halfling on his hand and causing him to drop his blade with a pained gasp. Khalid jumped to stand between Silke and the hapless 'thug', having drawn his sword.

"Wuh-We won't m-murder anyone so obviously innocent!" he yelled. Ged hastily tried to grab Silke's hand but the furious woman gave him a stinging blow across the face with her fist that sent him reeling. Imoen retreated from the furious Silke, quickly readying her bow.

"Fools! You are obviously some group of pathetic do-gooders, out to ruin my day! I shall kill you and then kill those merchant wretches myself!" she hissed, and to Ged's shock, started spell casting!

With an alarmed yelp, Imoen fired her arrow, but Silke's spell was already complete. Her shaft hit an invisible barrier and deflected away. Jaheira swung her staff, but Silke blocked her blow quite skillfully, jumping back to keep her distance from the druidess.

Khalid ran around the Silke to block her escape route and Ged attempted to follow the warrior's example, completing the encirclement by rounding the other way round. Imoen fired a second arrow, but her aim was poor, as she tried to avoid missing her friends, and the shaft missed it's target entirely.

As if on a cue, Khalid and Jaheira both sprang towards their foe, who again yelled a few words in the language of magic. It was a familiar spell, Mirror Image, and the half-elves only hit the illusionary doubles, leaving five shimmering Silke's leering at them.

Ged also tried his best, but his wild swing didn't connect with the nimble woman or any of her Images.

Silke started casting again, this time something much more complicated.

"Hurry! Kill her now!" Jaheira screamed and hacked furiously at the dodging Silke and her illusionary doubles. In a few more strikes, only the real Silke remained. Then her spell was complete and she vanished into thin air.

"Invisibility, by Silvanus!" Jaheira cursed, starting to swing wildly into areas adjacent where their foe had stood. Khalid mirrored her actions. Then Ged heard Silke's quiet casting voice coming from behind him.

"She's here!" he yelled, swinging futilely. A crackling lightning bolt streaked through the air and struck Jaheira, causing her to fall down, twitch briefly and then lay motionless, her clothes smoking. Screming his wife's name, Khalid ran towards Silke's presumed position.

Imoen, who was biting her lip to avoid crying saw a bush move behind where Khalid and Ged were swinging at the empty air. Instinctively, she took aim and fired. There was a surprised shriek of pain, and droplets of blood fell on the leaves.

Khalid turned instantly and ran to the bush, swinging his sword in a vertical slash at the presumed position of the treacherous ms. Rosena. There was another scream as Khalid's blow connected, and a severed hand, still clutching the white staff Ged had admired, fell to the ground along with more blood.

Imoen could see more droplets fall as Silke fled, still invisible. She shot a quick trio of arrows after her but none found their targets. Khalid started after her, when Ged yelled to him from where Jaheira had fallen.

His face pale and his hands trembling, the warrior kneeled where his wife lay, whispering her name.

Jaheira was alive, though unconscious.There was no mark on her except an area where her armor and clothing had singed slightly.The two men breathed easier, and Khalid felt his eyes moisten in his relief. As the warrior was gently tending his wife's injuries, Ged heard a sound like a cough behind him.

"You little conniving rat!" Ged yelled, spinning around to face Garrick who had cleared his throat.

"Did you set us up intentionally?" he demanded, walking to the frightened bard and grasping the front of his worn silk shirt threateningly.

"I swear to you, young sir! I did not! I swear in Tyr's name, I didn't!" he spoke rapidly, obviously scared for his life.

With a disgusted grunt, Ged shoved the hapless young bard away and turned his fury at the two members of their group who hadn't lifted a finger during the fight. Imoen joined him, her usually merry features darkening in anger.

"What's with you two gully pennies? We could'a used some help with that witch!" she yelled at the pair, who were emerging from the thicket they had hid themselves during the engagement.

"Bah! Ye bleedin' eedjits! It be yer own bloody fault, attacking someone who jes' wanted to employ us an' pay all that gold!" the halfling sneered.

"That's right!" Xzar pouted, looking and sounding like a miserable child. "Tell yon elf witch to never hit my Monty again or I'll-"

"You'll do what, wizard?" the druidess' voice intoned wearily from behind them.

Ged and Imoen whirled around, relief lightingup their faces.

Khalid was supporting his wife, helping her to stand. Jaheira was ashen faced and weak-looking, yet her eyes blazed furiously as she regarded the halfling and the tattooed wizard.

"I suppose we should rest here for a while, I don't think the witch will trouble us anymore today." the druidess mused, seeing no further challenge from the sullen pair.

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The merchants, who had fled the instant the battle started, returned soon after expressing their gratitude and presenting the companions with a token of their esteem, a potion they said would protect the imbider like a invisible suit of plate mail armor.

Garrick had also stayed around, continuing to pledge his innocence and good intentions. The young bard seemed to be genuinely shocked about Silke's actions, and Ged quickly forgave him.

The bard's next proposal shocked him, however.

"Might I travel with you for a while?" he asked in polite tones from Jaheira, who was feeling a bit better after healing herself with the aid of her god.

"No!" Montaron snarled simultaneously with Imoen's "Yes!"

Jaheira glanced wearily at Khalid, who tried to supress his smile. The warrior gave a slight shrug.

"Can you tell stories?" Xzar warbled, still sounding like a child.

"Uh... yes, I suppose so, though my forte is singing." Garrick answered, looking at the unsteady wizard warily.

Xzar's face brightened and he clapped his hands joyously. "Hooray! You must come with us! Do you know the one about bears and gold? Monty told me that and it was so lovely I was happy for hours and hours and hours!" he squealed, starting to dance around in joy.

Imoen couldn't supress her mirth at the wizard's outrageous behaviour and started giggling uncontrollably.

Turning towards the bard, Jaheira sighed wearily. "Come with us then, but do realize that we are attempting to solve this iron crisis, and it will be dangerous. Can you use that sword?"

The young man beamed with pleasure, and assured the weary warrior druid he had been well schooled at swordplay. Bowing to Jaheira in an overtly courteous manner, he turned towards Imoen and engaged the young woman in conversation about some subject or the other, futilely trying to ignore Xzar's dancing.

Ged felt slightly annoyed by the fact that Jaheira hadn't consulted him about the bard, after everyone else had given their opinions. He was of a mind to go and ask her about the fact, but seeing the two half-elves engaged in some very private looking matter, Jaheira laying in her husbands arms, he decided to let the matter pass.

Their conversation was indeed private, but it concerned the young wizard.

"Whu-why didn't you ask Ged, my dear? It wuh-wasn't very polite..." Khalid gently chided his wife, who was resting her head on his lap.

"What?" the druidess snapped irritably. "An oversight, no more. Besides, young Gedragon could have volunteered his opinion, the others certainly did so. Don't blame me if he lacks Gorion's fire."

"That was not fair, muh-my d-dear and you know it!" the warrior said, hoping his wife wouldn't consider his reproach a direct challenge this time, when she needed to rest.

Jaheira turned her head and Khalid could see the anger in her eyes. His wife usually had the last word in their arguments, being a much more forceful personality.

"Unfair?" she hissed. "If not for him, Gorion would still be-" she started, before catching herself.

Khalid merely smiled sadly, considering his point made.

"I-I'm sorry. You are right my husband. It wasn't the boy's fault, that our mentor lies in his earthen grave. It's just..." she said, her voice trailing off as she searched for words to convey her intense emotions about the death of their old friend.

"I k-know, my love." Khalid replied, soothingly. "Ged is inexperienced yet, but he will mature quickly, him and Imoen both. Besides, I think they handled themselves wuh-well in combat today. Do you remember how f-foolish and nuh-naive we once were." he smiled at his wife, stroking her hair.

"I remember." Jaheira replied, her frown melting away into a fond smile. "Silvanus help me, it seems a lifetime ago. Almost as if it happened to someone else entirely." her smile melted away, shifting into a more thoughtful look.

"Gedragon and the girl will have to grow up fast, otherwise they will die." she mused. "Poor Gorion, I don't think he envisoned this kind of a life for the boy."

Khalid sighed, glancing at Ged, who was inspecting the staff Silke had left behind as Imoen laughed merrily at something Garrick had told her.

Wearily he called for the others to pack up. Wounded as they were, a night between clean sheets in an Beregost inn felt a much more inviting prospect than camping outside.

-:o Next episode: Where the wild roses grow o:-

Ok, thanks for all the reviews so far. :D Some answers to your questions:

1) I've always assumed Shank & Carbos came to CK as servants of some merchant or nobleman. Intended originally to make Tethtoril or Gorion comment on the fact, but oh well!

2) Ged being a magical prodigy will become more apparent as he progresses, he will not be an archmage right out of Candlekeep but if you consider the main character at the end of the BG saga, 25 to 30th level and what, 20-22 years of age! Don't worry, you will see young Ged show his quality in the future, so far only Gorion (and perhaps Tethtoril) realized his inner talent, see how Jaheira treats him.

3) I like Khalid's stutter! Makes writing his lines different than that blasted shakespearian stuff used by some characters or Imoen and Montaron's cant infused stuff.

4) The spellbooks, yea one of my beefs with the BG series. Some times they kinda tried to do it in the game by giving you a couple of scrolls from a dead mage (like Tarnesh the Friendly Arm assassin). Not all wizards carry their books with them, though. As they are needed only for memorization, some more cunning wizards keep their well hidden.