Tieron calmly walked up the path. Somebody had really put effort into making an easy climb back up toward the road... so that ruled out coincidence. Whoever had made the dock and this series of steps knew that a pregnant woman was going to be arriving. The paint on the marking posts was even fresh and unweathered, suggesting it had been finished very recently.
Tieron's concentration was broken by a rustling in the leaves. His hand flew to the hilt of his b*****d sword, until he heard a barely suppressed giggle. He smiled a small smile and picked up a stick, jabbing it into the bushes.
"OW!" Saiya shot up in the bushes where she'd been hiding. Liana popped up on the other side of the path. The little girl, with nubs of horns protruding out from her thin bangs, looked at Tieron with an evil eye.
"Little Saiya had a dream you were coming back today. I figured we'd surprise you on the path. Welcome back." Liana said as she bowed slightly.