If anything, the walking and transportation give him the chance to see the city a little better than an escorted car-ride would.

And it gives him the chance to talk to Beauford, see the sights and sounds, and feel more free than he has in a long time.

Here, no monsters are out to attack him because he's a demigod. No one's whispering promises of seeing his sister again. No one's whispering anything.


In the restaurant, after being seated and giving his menu a quick glance: "Alligator?" he repeats, picking out the one unlikely word.