Free Chronicles of Logos Quest For the Kingdom Parts IV, V, VI, and VII Revised With Index (Quest For the Kingdom Set) by L. M. Roth Page A

Alexandrians are forbidden to meet in Valerium. And any who pledge
allegiance to the Kingdom of Heaven are regarded as traitors, and their lands
and possessions are forfeit to the Empire. And this is what has happened to our
family, Kyrene.
    “Can you
believe this? We have had to flee Valerium, as have our other friends who are
scattered to I know not where. We hope and pray that they are safe, but we have
not yet heard from any of them.
    “Our
comfort is Logos. When Marcus consulted the Sword, he was told, ‘ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for
theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.’ As always, the Sword spoke Truth and seemed
to know what is happening in our lives at all times. We must console ourselves
that we did no wrong, and indeed, had the blessing of Emperor Urbanus to meet
openly from the very beginning in Valerium. But those days are no more.
    “We
shall settle in Lycenium, where my mother still has an estate. We know that
there are some Alexandrians in the city who have the freedom to meet openly, at
least at present. Our son Lucius has been here for some time, studying and
preparing for the day he will take his position in the Maximus family. Although
what that will be now we do not know, as the estate in Valerium has been
confiscated by the Empire.
    “Our
daughter Felicia is another matter entirely, and it is of her that my primary
concern is in writing this letter to you. As you know, she has been exhibiting
a gift of prophecy for a few years, and lately seems to be growing in that
gift. Indeed, it was she who warned us of Iacomus through a dream she had not
long after his arrival.
    “It
has been my desire for her to have a season in Lycenium to prepare her for
marriage. She is adamant, however, that she wants no part of it, and would like
to come to Solone and be mentored in your school for young ladies with similar
gifting. I had denied her request when she first asked permission, but in view
of what has lately transpired and how accurate her dream was, I have changed my
mind and decided to grant her permission to come to you for a while.
    “You
know she will not be an easy charge, having a tendency to argue with authority
at times, although done not from rebellion but a desire to be heard and to
reason for herself in arriving at the truth. Also, she is over fond of food and
indulges herself far too much at table. I wish this to stop, as she is becoming
quite plump, and give you full permission to deny her food according to your
discretion of an adequate portion of a meal.
    “We
shall be paying you a visit and if Felicia is acceptable to you, we shall leave
her with you. I warn you that she will be difficult, but she is affectionate
when content, and I do not think you would regret training her to become the
woman Dominio desires her to be.
    “I
remain your affectionate friend,
    Tullia
Maximus”
    Kyrene
sighed deeply, letting her breath out slowly as she read the contents of the
letter. How tragic! She found it incredible that Emperor Urbanus, the Governor
Urbanus of her memory, who had been such a wonderful friend to Marcus, should
so turn against him as to confiscate his property. Why, this Iacomus must be an
instrument of the Astra themselves!
    As
for taking charge of Felicia, she found the prospect delightful. She knew that
the girl’s plumpness and awkwardness were incomprehensible to Tullia, who had
always been a great beauty. But Kyrene found her endearing, and as for
challenging authority, had she not done the same all of her life?
    A
shadow fell upon her letter. So absorbed had she been in reading it, and so
loud the boom of the waves on the shore below, that she had not heard the
approach of footsteps. She glanced up, but someone stood between her and the
sun, and she could not see his face.
    She
stood up and moved slightly to the side and turned to face her visitor. He
seemed familiar, yet different, as though she might have known him long ago.
    He
was tall and