100 Potions

By Paul Lucas

Tobias of Winterbourne continues his epic multi-year journey to many new and exotic lands, as diplomatic envoy and ambassador for his king.

The Envoy makes his way to a colony of Animisians, people altered by magic since birth to resemble various totem animals. A powerful Baron threatens to cruelly enslave Dusty, a skilled alchemist, if she does not manufacture 100 rare fertility potions for him within one hundred days. Dusty forms a desperate alliance with the Envoy and a body slave named Desini to create the potions, leading to many unexpected sensual delights amidst all the mad alchemy.

But can this unlikely trio of chance lovers succeed against the Baron's treachery?

BOOK FIVE of the FANTASY ENVOY series!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paul Lucas
• Release date: May 4, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310228285

Paul Lucas

I grew up on the shores of Lake Erie, just a few snow drifts away from Buffalo, NY. I am a life long science fiction and fantasy fan, and avidly keep up on developments in the fields of science, technology, and ancient cultures.Currently I am a freelance writer and artist, with fifteen years of experience in the field. In 1998 I had a tabletop RPG published, and in 2005 my first novel CREATURA came out. My shorter works have seen the light of day in publications such as Strange Horizons, Afterburn, Tales of the Talisman, Fables, and others. Currently I do a lot of personal commissions and ghost writing work.

Book preview

100 POTIONS

Paul Lucas

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Copyright 2016 Paul Lucas

Cover Illustration by Paul Lucas

The character of Dusty and Skrapps are copyright their respective creators, and are used with permission.

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Smashwords Edition

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Other FANTASY ENVOY Books by Paul Lucas

THE CLERIC'S FAREWELL

THE MAD KING'S ROAD

THE ELF WIFE

A NIGHT AT THE DEBAUCHERY

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CHAPTER 1

The tall Equinoid ducked through a doorway built for people considerably smaller than himself. A bell on a coil spring tinkled over the door jamb.

Garrulous Genk, like all Animisians, had been born fully human. However, as he grew, the totemic magic of his homeland had slowly transformed him into a very large, muscular humanoid that blended many outward features of human and horse. He had a long, angular head reminiscent of a stallion's, but with expressive human features, such as his mahogany eyes and agile lips. The body beneath his clothes was covered over with a fine layer of dappled chestnut hair, with a dark mane topping his head and a tail of similar hue sprouting out from just above his backside. He wore homespun leggings and a loose shirt with sleeves rolled up past his elbows.

The Equinoid looked about the small storefront, fitted with shelves displaying empty beakers, colorful bottles, portable cauldrons, and mortars and pestles. All conspicuously empty. The shop owner knew enough not to leave alchemical ingredients and potions out in the open for fumble-fingered customers to potentially kill themselves with.

Garrulous spotted a gray-furred Lupinoid seated behind the counter. Hey Skrapps. Where's Dusty? he asked.

Skrapps was also an Animisian, but one that boasted wolf-like traits instead of equine ones. Skrapps was much more normal-sized at five foot eleven, compared to Gar's six and a half feet. His fur was short and gray-scaled, showing off a muscular, wiry physique under his casual attire.

The Lupinoid shrugged with careful casualness. Er, she's around here... somewhere. Yep. Busy though. She could be a while. You might, um, might want to come back later...

Gar narrowed his eyes, noticing Skrapps' slightly dilated eyes and twitchy triangular ears. The Lupinoid blinked a lot, his mind definitely elsewhere. Uh-huh. Thing is, she was supposed to have that spicy marinade ready that we asked for. We're about to put our mutton on the fire at the Inn for tonight, so we kind of need it soon. If you could look for it?

Skrapps looked really concerned for a second. He made a show of looking around, twisting his head this way and that, above the counter and below it, but not budging from his seat. Nope. Definitely not h-here. I promise Gar, she just n-needs a little bit. If you could come back...

Gar's mobile ears twitched. Did he hear muffled giggling from under the counter?

The Equinoid smirked. He leaned back on the countertop, casually crossing his beefy arms. I'll just wait here until she's done. I don't mind. I know she likes to be very thorough in her work...

Skrapps loosed almost inaudible whine at that, but Gar heard muffled giggling again. Suddenly a small, three fingered hand emerged from under the counter, and somewhat clumsily placed the marinade bottle between the two men.

Skrapps looked mortified, his thinly-furred cheeks burning red. Gar laughed. The Equinoid flipped two copper crowns onto the countertop as he grabbed the bottle. Thanks, he said as he headed toward the door. Just as he was about to leave, he called back. And Dusty, maybe you should come up for air once in a while.

As soon as the tall stallion left, Skrapps' grabbed the edge of the counter and loosed a long, low, unbroken moan. His whole body shivered hard just before his every muscle locked still for several heartbeats.

He slumped on the stool, panting and lolling his long tongue out of the side of his mouth. A short, slim rabbit woman emerged from under the counter, licking her lips of whitish cum and looking immensely pleased with herself.

Dusty was short, even for a Lepine, barely topping out at five feet. She boasted a slim boyish figure with a flat chest but broad, curving hips and a shapely rear. Her whole body bore a fine coat of short gray fur, with a fuzzy bob of a bunny's tail poking out just above her backside. Large bunny ears flopped down from her head, long enough to flop back over her shoulder, in contrast to her short-cropped, dark gray hair. She wore leggings and a white smock over her front with no shirt. Large rounded spectacles rested on her short muzzle, with even larger brass goggles strapped to her forehead.

Why do you always put me in situations like that? Skrapps accused.

Dusty shrugged, settling down in his lap as soon as he shifted his spent cock comfortably back into his trousers. Aw, it was just Gar. Its not like he hasn't caught us being naughty stuff before. Besides, would you rather have no blow job at all next time?

The Lupinoid's ears pinned back. Of course not. You were amazing. I'm just saying that maybe we shouldn't do it someplace so exposed.

The gray Lepine booped the dark wet nose on the end of his snout. But that's part of the fun. Besides, you're leaving on another long caravan trip in a few days, and I want as much of you as I can get before then.

I'll only be gone two months.

Two whole months where you'll be screwing all those lonely small town women along the way. You know what they say about caravan guards. A pretty girl waiting in every town...

We both agreed long ago that we'd both be open to other partners. We've shared enough of them.

She tapped her small pointed chin. True. And every time when you leave I put up a big sign out front saying 'SKRAPPS IS GONE!' Every male in town lines up from here to the Baron's castle. And half the women. And some farm animals. I never get any work done...

The wolf laughed, his fingers attacking her well-known ticklish spots. She shrieked with laughter and squirmed madly in his grip. After a few minutes, they settled down, and Dusty wrapped arms around his neck just to enjoy his closeness.

You know, Skrapps said softly, We don't always have to be apart. I could get a job with the militia and settle down here for real. The non-Lepines get all the shit postings, but at least I'd be nearby. Then maybe we could make things official between us.

Dusty's expression soured. Skrapps, no. We both hate the Baron. And I would hate you working for him even more.

Its not like I haven't had bad bosses before. But this is really more about you, right? His voice betrayed hints of irritation. You never want to commit to anything.

That's unfair, she said, sliding from his lap. Things aren't black and white like that.

We could still have an open relationship, like we do now.

Dusty leaned against the counter and hugged herself. "You know its not that. I more that don't know what I'm doing with my life. I still feel like I'm a 14-year-old trapped in a body twice that age, just pretending to be an adult and improvising everything every day. I never seem to have any money or time, and I can't imagine how I'd fit something as monumentally BIG as a marriage into all that..."

Skrapps held up his hands placatingly. Okay, okay. I get it. I guess things aren't so bad between us the way they are. He stood himself, and pulled her close once again. I'm tough. I can stand it for as long as I need to, if it means being with you.

She rested her furry cheek against his broad chest. And I promise as soon as I can get my life together, we can make things official. Maybe. She said the last with a dry little laugh, but didn't know herself if she was kidding or not.

CHAPTER 2

The world of Animis was filled with people transformed by totemic magic.

At one time its population was fully human. However, over the centuries, a religion rose that came to completely dominate every nation on the world's singular large supercontinent. This faith worshipped nature and its many magical forces, even taking its name from an ancient term for all the beasts of the world. A variant of that in turn eventually became the name for their world itself.

The religion was divided into many factions. Each faction adopted a different totem animal and controlled a specific territory, usually a single kingdom or close alliances of them.

Over a millennium in the past, for reasons never fully disclosed, the priesthoods of the various factions began creating powerful totemic artifacts centered in their temples that would transform all their worshippers into vague representations of their revered patron animal.

Each child was born fully human, no matter how much his or her parents may themselves be transformed. However, as the child grew, the totem he or she lived closest to would slowly alter their body with subtle magic over the years. The magic stopped as soon as they reached adulthood, and from that point forward they wore their changed forms the rest of their lives.

These new bodies boasted many animal features. A typical Animisian obtained animal ears, tail, a muzzle, and fur by the time they reached eighteen years old. Those growing up under a reptile totem might gain scales instead of fur, while a bird totem worshipper may acquire a feathers and a beak.

While the transformed populace could look startling to outsiders, most of the changes were purely cosmetic. The people of Animis were still thoroughly human in