Elisora

As part of the main plot, a Queen called Elisora (she was in the 1st book temporarily) she learned she could use her blood and magic to make clay come to life, and also extend life in people and animals by replacing their blood with flowing bloodclay. now in 4th book she has slaves. gathered in a short time. she killed the previous leaders of the enslaved people. keeping pet dragons who helped her invade this castle in the middle of a swamp. she tells her slave men to gather clay to help one of her older dragons live longer.

Jaymson leaps from rock to rock, reaching the swamp edge in an unofficial race,
Maston walks slow with Daythorn carrying the shovels at a slower pace,
Passing out the shovels, the other slaves begin digging as cold winds blow,
Making a trench and keeping the water back from filling gaps with its flow,
“That is the clay she is after.” Maston points, with Jaymson digging fast,
The other slaves fill it into wooden buckets, previously used and rotten from the past,
“Put it in the dungeons.” Daythorn says, overseeing the others digging in the ground,
“Leave the hole open.” He adds, as Jaymson nods, seeing the bones he found,
“Who were they?” Maston asks, as Daythorn warms his hands with his breath,
“People who didn’t want to join Elisora.” He explains about their death,
“I thought she set them free?” Maston tries to remember, being young back then,
“Some were, but these were powerful in magic.” Daythorn looks at the skulls of the men,
“All males.” He picks one up, seeing a familiar face on the rotting mud covered head,
“This place always creeped me out.” Maston says, now knowing it was because of the dead.