It was 376 AD the year the Visigoths first entered the Roman Empire. Before the Battle of Adrianople in 378 AD, Quintus sent his household to the safety of Alexandria. There, Livia was tutored in reading and philosophy. It was there she discovered her special talent of working with horses much to the dismay of her mother who wanted her to become a Priestess. The Roman army suffered one of its greatest losses at Adrianople. Quintus was one of the few survivors. He joined his family in Alexandria where they stayed until 385 AD. Just as their long journey back to Iolcos was about to end, Visigoth horse-traders raided the procession of soldiers and servants. Quintus and his men fought the raiders off but not before Livia and several other household members had been taken. Livia traveled west with the horse-traders to Dalmatia where she was sold to a household traveling west to the tribes of Hibernia.

At nine years of age she became a slave to Maiandria, a woman born in Hibernia but who had traveled to Greece when she was a child. Maiandria's wealthy husband had suspiciously died and she immediately left for her home in Hibernia. Her own daughter had been killed, so she took Livia under her personal care and treated her as if she were her own child. She changed Livia's name to Amatheia and forbid her to ever use her given name. Amatheia arrived in Hibernia in the spring of 386 AD.

Despite several attempts of escaping, she was allowed the same liberties as any young girl who was not a slave. It was living among tribes that Amatheia further developed her ability to train horses. Maiandria furthered her education but added a new element, the Druid religion. Meanwhile, Quintus continued to search for his daughter, never giving up hope that she was still alive. Callianessa took ill and died in the temple near Iolcos while Quintus was away with his troops. In 399 AD Quintus was moved to Aquae Sulis. Battle weary and broken-hearted at the loss of his wife and daughter, he did little more than delegate all duties to his closest men.

On an outing with Maiandria, Livia discovered a Roman troop who had traveled to the land of the tribes. Maiandria tried to whisk her away, but a soldier noted the suspicious act and questioned her. Weeping on her knees, Maiandria confessed she had bought the girl as a slave in Dalmatia. The soldier ordered Amatheia forward and asked her name. "I am Livia Tasia, daughter to Quintus Livius Tasius, daughter to the Priestess Callianessa." Disgusted that a Roman citizen had been bought by another Roman citizen, the soldier wanted to punish Maiandria. Livia asked that her life be spared because she had truly cared for her as her own child. Maiandria was spared and Livia was taken to Aquae Sulis and to her father. Livia opted to stay at the post with her father rather than being sent back to Iolcos where the rest of her family was. Her father gave her the position of calo and allowed her to train the horses of his cavalry.