The actual name of this chapter is Brevity is the mother of ascension, but fanfiction has a character limit on chapter names.

The next day Gwydion was again awake before anyone else. The vial which had had shrinking solution was empty, so he washed that and the rest of the dishes from last night. He made some breakfast for himself and gave some grilled ham (which was almost like bacon) to both cats when they wandered in, Manannan complaining about the early time the whole way. Medusa woke later, and glided into the room with her hair snakes making cute little yawns. Medusa insisted on feeding herself, shooing Gwydion away to eat his own food. To Gwydion it felt oddly warm, just like Medusa's hugs did, to be surrounding by the people he cared for most in this (or any) world, and to eat breakfast together.

"Eat up, we have a lot to do today." Medusa commented. "First we must confirm your reign, and then my regency. Both require rituals to tie to the land. Then you and Manannan must find the spell, and practice it, or potion, and make it." Medusa here glared at the white cat, "If anything happened to Gwydion while in your care I will make you suffer ten times worse. On that you have my promise."

Letholdus hiss-laughed, "Not to fear, I will keep my eye on both of them."

Medusa eyed the black cat, and despite not understanding the words, understood the tone enough to sharply nod. "You will watch them both and while you do, I will go into town and spread the word of Manannan's defeat. There is also a number of decisions to be made about trade and I need to update myself on a few things which I was unable to do in my cave. We are at a distinct disadvantage right now, if we can make allies before any of the more aggressive kingdoms hear of Gwydion's age it will protect us."

"Why does my age matter?"

"A young ruler is both a weakness and strength. Firstly, children are seen as weak, even if that is not true. You have great magics, enough to defeat Manannan, who is well known, and I will tell all who will listen this. But there will always be those who see a child and think they can either manipulate you or attack you out right. On the other hand, you are young enough that many will seek to ally themselves now, likely through marriage, before you grow strong enough to defeat them."

Gwydion gulped, "Marriage? I'm seven! I don't want to get married!"

"And I will not make you. A marriage for only power may in fact weaken you, both politically and magically. Right now it is better if we concentrate on building up what we have. Today I will also check the financial state of the kingdom. From what I have observed since the curse was lifted the kingdom is not in debt, but that is all the good I can say about the coffers. There has been no money to pay for guards to protect the land against bandits and pirates, which is why they infest this area so heavily. Most families have sent their children away, as there is no money to pay the guilds for our youth to gain apprenticeships. Basic repairs which are needed on the pier have not been done in decades. The river north, which is a main trade route, has been allowed to dry and the banks are overgrown. The desert has crept closer to the town every year. Farmers have left as crops failed. You ritually uniting with the land will help some of these problems, and marriage to a wealthy state could fix the other problems in the short term. But it would put you in a weak position for the rest of your life. And if you are unhappy that can weaken your magic, and through you the land. It is not worth it. It may take time but there are other ways to find money."

Letholdus had been listening keenly, "Ask Medusa if she plans seek the old races. It would a quick way to find power."

After repeating to Medusa Letholdus's question, Medusa and the cat seemed to have a conversation without saying a word, while Manannan hissed, "What! A creature for a regent is bad enough! You will let that filth here?"

Gwydion looked bewildered between the others, "What is going on?"

Manannan hissed, "She means to destroy you! Consort with the old races is to invite the lesser here! Power thieves, filth banished from where good folk live!"

Letholdus shouted, "Silence!"

Medusa spoke softly, "That is a matter for later. Now there is,"

"No I think I need to know!" Gwydion interrupted, "what are you talking about? Who are the old races? Why would we seek them?"

Medusa seemed to sigh, "The old races are those who came to this land first, long long ago and have for one reason or another, become outcasts."

"Why would that happen?"

"Gwydion, men fear what they can not control. The old races are heavily linked to the land, and are powerful for it. I am one of the old races. I'm the last of my kind, and have long been seen as a monster. If I was to travel to Daventry I would likely be killed on sight. There are others like me, the last of the old races, the forgotten. They are excluded from many places where men rule. If we invite them here we would have their power at the cost of many Kingdoms fear."

Manannnan was twitching, clearly desperate to talk. "Let him talk, Letholdus," Gwydion said.

Letholdus hesitated then, "Say what you want, but be civil."

Manannan sneered, "They are banished for good reason. To invite them here is to invite your own destruction. They will kill you for even a scrap of power."

Gwydion shook his head, unsure. "How could we know if we can trust them?"

Medusa seemed to slump in on herself, "I can not say we can for now. Until we are sure of our position it would be folly to ask them to come here. This, however, is a matter for later. First we have much to do to even confirm what we have. I will set up the ritual in the hall, Gwydion you must wash very well. Do not get dressed after, but come straight to the hall."

"You mean naked?!"

"Yes. Oh, don't look so worried. You are hardly my type."

Gwydion was bright pink in the face as Letholdus broke into great huffing laughs, and the boy fled to the wash room.

What followed was highly embarrassing, with Medusa having to encourage the boy through the kitchen and into the hall, where the table had been pushed to one side, and a large circle of vines and soil had been placed. Naked and slightly cold, the boy stood where directed and repeated a series of chants after Medusa.

"I claim this land, as by right of conquest. I hold power over the land, and all its peoples. I take its magic and offer my own, entwined." Around him, the vines bust into a strange green flame. The soil danced above the vines, glittering. Gwydion could feel the pressure build against his skin. Medusa handed him a large goblet and Gwydion drunk the earthy mix. "As I take in the land I become. I am the forests. I am the air. I am the rivers and lakes. I am the dark places and the light. I rule this land."

In a flash of light, everything tingled and he had felt light headed, making him sit down. The vines and soil had burnt up completely, leaving the room bare.

Medusa was smiling as she helped him redress, his limbs floppy and his head fuzzy, "That went well. The land accepted you as its ruler, but you wont be able to act fully until you come of age, which for humans I believe is 18 years old. When that happens we will have to do another ritual. But for now, rest while I set up the regency ritual."

Letholdus sat in Gwydion's lap purring, and Manannan pressed himself against Gwydion's side while Medusa took the goblet and mixed herbs and liquids together in it. After sometime, Medusa coiled her tail under herself tightly, almost as if she was kneeling before Gwydion, holding the goblet. She gave him the goblet. Letholdus and Manannan moved away, and Gwydion felt suddenly vulnerable.

"I will speak, and then you must say, 'I accept your oath' and give me the goblet. Are you ready?"

Gwydion focused on Medusa, "Yes."

Medusa voice was clear and strong, "I swear before those gathered and magic itself to protect this one called Gwydion, ruler of this land. I swear to hold in trust his will until he is of age to rule. I swear to act as his sword and shield, for this land and for all who are tied to it. Do you accept my oath?"

"I accept your oath." Handing over the goblet made everything slightly less fuzzy, but at the same time made Gwydion tingle even more. Medusa quickly drunk the mix, and around each wrist a band of green light formed before settling in to her skin. The ritual was done.

Gwydion had a nap, more affected by the ritual then expected, while Medusa went into town and the two cats stayed close. Even Manannan acted protective, curling up against the sleeping boy.

Around dinner, Medusa roused the boy and fed him a simple broth. He wasn't sleepy as such, just unable to concentrate, as his magics flowed into the land and the land's magic flowed back. As such, she didn't force him back to bed, but instead sat with him among the pillows now in his old room and sung to him, telling him stories of the land he had now claimed. It was soothing, and eventually Gwydion drifted back to sleep.