(You wondered if I would write anymore... Well, this is just something I wrote after the whole story. It's about Dasian when he was younger. I have a lot of little stories about him and Anaella before and after the war. I just can't let them go...)

Jengo's Hate Seed

Dasian looked up from his book when he heard voices nearing his reading tree in the garden of the king's castle. He had claimed the tree when he first saw it six years ago when he was only two. Gespian, the prince and his friend had readily agreed to let him have it and ever since then the tree had been Dasian's special place to hide, think, and read.

Now he peered through its leafy bows and saw Gespian, Jengo his cousin and a few other boys of noble birth walking towards his tree. All had wooden swords in their hands and Gespian held Dasian's sword. The young prince looked up at the tree and said, "Dasi, come play with us!"

The young lad consented, and tucked his book away in a secret box hidden in the leaves before swinging down to land among his comrades. Jengo's sister, Mattie, was also there, though she did not carry a sword and she looked at Dasian with admiration.

"What are we going to play?" wondered Dasian taking his sword and hefting it as if testing it's weight as he had seen his father do before he was killed while on a mission.

"War of course," sneered Jengo. "And I'm going to the commander."

"Oh, no you aren't," said Dasian quickly. "You were it last time and got us all in trouble. I'm going to lead this time."

Mattie interfered, "But Dasi, Jengo is older and bigger! Shouldn't he be the leader?"

"It just doesn't take strength and height," said Dasian his dark eyes clashing with Jengo's. "It takes skill to be a leader."

"Since you both want to be the commander we shall have two armies," said Gespian decidedly, after all he was the prince and a king to them. "Jengo will be in charge of one and Dasi the other. Take your pick Jengo and then Dasi and so on."

As soon as all the boys were picked Mattie pointed out, "But Dasi only has Gespian, Lando, and Ricky! And Jengo has the four big boys, it isn't fair!"

"It's fine," said Dasian confidently. "Jengo's army will need more than strength."

Jengo glared at him.

Mattie consented and climbed up on the wall of a fountain as the two armies faced each other. Dasian whispered instructions to his 'men' before taking his place in front. She put a whistle to her mouth and as soon as the shrill notes sounded, the two armies collided. The wooden swords clashed and insults and curses resounded on both sides.

"Ouch! I'll get you for that, Ricky!" cried one of Jengo's boys.

"Not the head you, dumbbell!" cried Dasian to Jengo.

"Watch out, Lando!"

Mattie clapped her hands in excitement as her eyes darted back and forth. When she thought the fighting was enough she blew the whistle again. All the boys broke apart, except for Dasian and Jengo who had dropped their swords and were wrestling in the grass. Jengo had a grip on Dasian's throat and the young boy was twisting his arm painfully.

"Holler nuf!" growled Jengo squeezing harder.

Instead, Dasian used his other hand to give the boy a firm punch in the nose. Jengo released his death grip and rolled over, blood streaming from his nose. Dasian was on his hands and knees, coughing and touching his sore throat gingerly. Jengo, infuriated at what Dasian had done, sprang on the lad unawares and again grabbed his throat, only this time he had him in a headlock. Dasian's face turned red as he tried to pull the arm off. When he realized this was futile, he reached up and grabbed Jengo's weak spot, his ear.

Jengo howled and flung both hands to his ear, but Dasian wouldn't let go. He shook it mercilessly and yelled, "You nearly killed me, you hear! You played unfair you, dog! Mattie blew the whistle you, dumbbell." He then jerked Jengo up, still by his swelling ear and pushed him away.

The other boys and Mattie stared at the two boys in alarm. Jengo's royal clothing was torn and bleeding from the fight and his ear was red. His eyes were threatening to spill over as he glared furiously at Dasian who had his hands on his knees and was panting.

Dasian did not dress in fancy clothing but stuck with a simple tunic over his leggings and tied securely with a belt, so he did not mind having it torn and ruffled, though he knew his mother might be fairly upset. He still touched his neck gently and every now and then returned Jengo's glare.

"Who won?" asked Ricky breaking the awkward silence.

Prince Gespian laughed nervously and said, "It does not matter, they both fought well and will both be rewarded." He took out a pouch from underneath his cloak and took out two gold coins. He gave one to Dasian and said, "This is for stopping the fight by grabbing Jengo's weak spot, and because you led your army bravely."

Dasian took it absently.

Gespian then gave the other to Jengo. "This is for keeping the quick Dasi in a headlock for so long and…"

"And for cheating like a coward!" shouted Dasian suddenly. He had gotten all of his strength back and was now red with anger. "Mattie blew the whistle and you were still fighting! Even after I pushed you off, you came and attacked again. You cheated against the very rules you helped make."

The boys stared at Dasian, as he breathed heavily, glaring at both Prince Gespian and his smirking cousin. Finally he threw the coin on the ground before Gespian and said, "If you reward traitors that way, Prince Gespian, then, I do not want any part in these games."

He turned and walked out of the garden, his fists clenching and unclenching.

"Maybe he's right," murmured Ricky softly.

"Or maybe he's not," said one of Jengo's boys.

"He is very right," said Gespian staring after the lad with a look of sadness and realization. He turned to Jengo and said, "Forthwith you are to be labeled as a traitor among the boys. You are all dismissed."

Jengo stared at his cousin in disbelief. He said in astonishment and disgust, "Are you really going to listen to such a low down boy? He is the lowest among us, his mother is our servant. His clothes are the poorest and he is one of the youngest among us. Why are you even letting him in the royal gardens when he should be out in the street begging?"

"Because he is noble," murmured Gespian. "He use to be my best friend for my first four years, then I started playing with other boys and we are not as close. But now I see what my father meant when he said that if I stay closer to Dasian son of Riley, I will learn many things." He walked past the gaping Jengo and exited the same place where Dasian went through.

Jengo glowered fiercely after him, his face blazing with anger and jealousy. "I will kill you someday, Dasian son of Riley. I swear I'll kill you."

The End...perhaps...