Page 249 of Scales ’N’ Spells: Volume One

“I’m sorry. We were not able to catch them,” the cop said, looking genuinely upset the men had gotten away.

North waved off the apology. His heart had slowed down to something of a normal pace, but he was now aware of the sweat coating his body and his shirt sticking to his frame. He needed another shower. “It’s okay. I’m just glad you were able to scare them away. I can’t imagine what they want with me. I haven’t even been here a full day.”

“Is this your first trip to Brussels?” the second cop asked. She had darker, almost black hair and surprisingly bright blue eyes.

“Yes. It’s a lovely place, but right now I just want to go back to my hotel.” He looked around, chewing a little on his bottom lip. “But I have no idea where I am. Could you give me directions to the nearest metro station? I should be able to figure it out from there.”

The cops wouldn’t hear of it. After some sweet cajoling, they convinced North to let them give him a ride back to his hotel outside the city. On the ride, they chatted about Brussels, gave him the phone number to a travel agency he could call for information about getting to Munich, and even convinced him to return to the Grand Place in the evening for the great tree lighting and choral performances.

At his hotel, they all got out of the cute little cop car and shook hands.

“You must come back to the Grand Place tonight, North,” Christiane, the brown-haired cop, urged, squeezing North’s shoulder.

Didiane, the blue-eyed cop, reached into her pocket and pulled out a business card. “Go to the celebration. If you are worried while in the square, call me.”

“But if you are in trouble, call 112. It’s like your 911 in the United States,” Christiane added.

North could only stare at the card in his hands, his lips parted in surprise. “Really? But won’t you be off duty tonight?”

“Yes, but still call me if you are scared,” Didiane pressed.

“The safety of the visitors to our city is important to us. We want you to enjoy your time in our country.”

“Thank you,” he whispered. He couldn’t wrap his mind around their kindness.

Christiane released his shoulder and gave him a final pat on the back. “Go inside. Warm up.”

“Get something to eat,” Didiane ordered.

“Get some rest and then return tonight for the party. You will have a great time.”

Chuckling, North nodded and tucked the white card into his pocket. “I will. Thank you for everything. Really. Thank you.”

Returning to his hotel room feeling a little lighter, North stripped down and took a quick shower before dropping on the bed. He passed out for several hours, finally catching up on some much-needed sleep. When he rose later that evening, it was easier to reassure himself the two men had been some aggressive pickpockets who had marked him as an easy target. It was nothing.

He sat on the bed and called the travel agency Christiane had told him about. The lady he spoke to was just as friendly as the two cops. Not only was she able to give him precise directions on which train to take and what he’d need to do when he got to Munich if he planned to continue on to the mountains, but she actually sent him an email with the directions as well as a list of moderately-priced hotels located within safe, tourist-friendly areas.

After hanging up the phone, North sat on the bed with his back against the headboard as he stared at the paper he’d made his notes on. There was an overnight train that would put him in Munich first thing in the morning. He didn’t need to go back into town. He could pack and chill at the hotel until it was time to head to the train station.

But this was Brussels…

At Christmas time.

When in the world was he going to be out this way again?

Possibly never.

If he didn’t find the dragons, there was no doubt in his mind his parents were going to force him home. That entire idea of running away to hide in Brussels and become a professional chocolatier was a little insane and a lot impossible.

Even if he did find dragons, he didn’t know what would happen next, but he doubted it would include fun trips to Brussels for the Christmas market and tree lighting celebration.

It was silly to pass up this opportunity. Those two assholes couldn’t have been after him specifically. Didiane had likely scared them off, and he’d be able to disappear into the massive crowd at Grand Place. He’d go, have some fun, eat some waffles with strawberries and chocolate, and then jump on the train to Munich.

Easy as pie.

Gunter flew to his right, just below Warin’s wing, following him in. The Royal Researcher yelled out, “Are we close?”

Perhaps it was only in Warin’s mind, but those words sounded eerily reminiscent of a child asking plaintively, Are we there yet?