The spell was easily found in the book in the cellar, however it was in part written in a dialect of elvish, which is why Gwydion hadn't understood it before. It needed salt, mistletoe and of course the amber. There was salt in the kitchen, but the sprig of mistletoe he had found days ago, now a little dry and slightly yellow. Medusa was in the study, piles of paper in front of her. Manannan hissed at her, but Medusa ignored the angry cat and smiled at Gwydion instead as the boy proudly waved the thick, greyish-green dried sprig of mistletoe its with remnants of little berries still attached. "Look! I had some from days ago in my bag." Medusa look a little doubtful when his enthusiastic wave dislodged a hard green berry, sending it flying into a corner. Gwydion defended himself, "Letholdus said it wouldn't matter if it was a little old and dry."

"Very well, if Letholdus believes it will be fine. Go and make the potion now, but don't activate it yet. There is much to prepare before your trip."

"I couldn't even if I wanted to. It has to be done at dawn. It's part of the magic."

Medusa smiled. With that Gwydion and both cats disappeared down into the cellar. The potion had to be one of the easiest yet, with Gwydion just mashing the mistletoe and salt together into a paste and then rubbing it into the stone as Gwydion chanted, "With this kiss, I thee impart,
Power most dear to my heart.
Take me now from this place hither,
To another place far thither."

And, grimacing, kissed the stone. There was a tingle across his lips, and when he looked at the stone again the red-yellow turned almost burgundy in colour, and the paste had soaked up like a sponge. To activate it he had to hold the stone at dawn and will himself away. At dusk, if he was holding the stone, he could will himself back to wherever he had departed from. Letholdus had warned him that the potion would have to be reapplied after every round trip, but Gwydion didn't think that would be much of a problem. Hopefully it would only require one trip to Daventry to warn the King and he could come back home.

Gwydion and the cats went back up stairs, and Gwydion proudly showed Medusa the stone.

"The stone is ready?"

"Ready."

"So we have the rest of the day to prepare. There is also a number of things you should know about Llewdor before you go. But first let us have some lunch."

After lunch Medusa sat down with Gwydion and went through the basic information on Llewdor. Including Gwydion, Llewdor had forty three citizens, seven of whom were chickens, two cats, three bears and one Medusa (but not inducing three bandits, who had disappeared after being told of Manannan's defeat). Medusa explained these were now Gwydion's responsibility, he had to make sure they were happy and healthy. This included checking who people married where good, useful people (and that they weren't too closely related), and getting them jobs (or apprenticeships). He was also somehow tied to the land, but Gwydion didn't really understand all that, and Medusa said it wasn't as important to know yet. In exchange for his protection the people had to pay a tithe (which is what the old women had been delivering each week), and were sworn to obey him. Medusa explain it was like he was now their dad, in charge, but also responsible. Gwydion had asked if that made Medusa the mum. Letholdus had laughed for a solid 5 minutes at that. Gwydion also learned that Medusa was setting up meetings with all the neighbouring kingdoms, to discuss trade routes. Port Bruce used to be a stop on many of the routes, before Manannan took over, and banned trade with he had sneering called creatures. Medusa was going to try and fix that, but it would take time to set up.

That afternoon also saw Medusa, Letholdus and Gwydion packing (Manannan refused to be helpful). Medusa had seen Gwydion's knapsack that he had taken from the bandits and explained it could fit 20 items into, no matter the size or weight, and remain only as heavy as the leather it was made of. After that the sack was like any other. Gwydion asked if it was ok for him to keep, after all the bandits probably hadn't paid for it. Medusa had retorted that Gwydions need was currently greater. Gwydion had then given the gold pouch to Medusa, asking her to find whoever it had belonged to and pay for it, to which Medusa promised she would, but handed back the pouch after taking ten gold pieces, insisting it was Gwydion's winnings.

Into the knapsack went a whole ham and a massive loaf of bread, as well as a large skin of pure water. Medusa also packed the thickest blanket she had. When he looked in the bag, the things all looked the same size, about the size of a large grape, all sitting at the bottom. She muttered over Gwydion's clothes, but they didn't have the time to get 'ones fitting his station' made, but did give Gwydion one of Manannan's short red capes, which was full length cloak on Gwydion. Medusa also gave him three small vials. The first would heal burns, the second small wounds, and the last should counter most (non-magical) poisons. Gwydion put them in his belt. She also packed a roll of fine green silk, a present 'of good will' to give to the king of Daventry when he got there. And in case of trouble, made Gwydion pack one of the kitchen knives.

With everything mostly done, they had dinner and then Medusa followed Gwydion up to his bedroom, and tucked him. Sleepily, the boy smiled when he felt Medusa brush a kiss across his forehead (and half a dozen little kisses from her hair) and the warm bodies of both Letholdus and Manannan tuck in next to him. He had his family around him, and tomorrow he would save the Prince.