Constantinopolis Read Online Free PDF Page B

come from?” asked the Emperor.
    “That’s just the problem My Lord. The Sultan has effectively cut off the Black Sea. We are not able to easily receive aid from our remaining colonies in that area or from the Georgians or Trebizonds. We could sneak some ships past those forts but this recent sinking will certainly make captains hesitant to run the strait, and I doubt the Ottomans would let soldiers, arms or grain past, even if the captain paid the fee.”
    “What about the ambassadors we sent out to the West, to the Venetians, Genoese, and to Naples? Any word from them?” Constantine had not waited for a crisis to try to prepare the city. He had worked tirelessly since his ascension to prepare Constantinople for a siege. One of the key components was aid from the west, and he had recently sent a new round of ambassadors out to beg assistance from various cities and kingdoms.
    “It’s still a little early to expect responses My Lord,” answered Notaras. “Our ships could have reached some of the cities and returned, but that conclusion doesn’t take into consideration time for an audience and negotiations. I don’t expect to hear from any of our missions for several weeks.”
    “Any news from my wonderful brothers? Can we not expect help from the Moria?” Constantine’s brothers Demetrius and Thomas shared control of the Moria, the ancient Peloponnesus of Greece. The brothers were often at war with one another, when they weren’t scheming to take the throne from Constantine.
    “Unfortunately we cannot My Lord. We have heard from Thomas that the Moria is being pressured by Mehmet as well. It’s unclear how long the peninsula can hold out, and it may have fallen already.”
    Constantine frowned. No help from the east, few resources at home, and no word from the west. They were almost defenseless. If Mehmet arrived immediately, even with a relatively small army, he could overwhelm the few professional soldiers and guards the Emperor possessed in a matter of days, at most, and a matter of hours at least. He had to do everything he could to prepare the city. “What else can we do?”
    “We should send missions to John Hunyadi in Hungary and ask for immediate assistance,” said Notaras. “We also should send a mission to the White Sheep in Anatolia. He is no friend of the Ottomans. He might be willing to help us, or at least use the siege of our city as an opportunity to attack the Ottomans.”
    “I agree on both. I don’t know if the White Sheep will help us. Will Muslim turn on Muslim to help a Christian? But we must try.”
    “Anything else?”
    “My Lord, I know you do not like this subject,” said Sphrantzes. “However, you should reconsider my suggestion that you betroth and marry the Georgian Princess Arianna, daughter of George VIII.”
    Constantine sighed in frustration. “Sphrantzes, we have discussed this time and again. I don’t want to be betrothed and I don’t want a wife. Besides, with the strait cut off by these cursed Turkish forts, what is the point?”
    “My Lord, the strait is cut off from a single ship carrying supplies, or even a few ships. It is not cut off from a fleet. If you are willing to negotiate a marriage contract, I believe we can work out substantial concessions from the Georgians. A relief fleet with troops and supplies is not out of the question.”
    Constantine paused before responding. What should he say? He had avoided this issue for a very long time. Zophia would be crushed, devastated. She was the only person who knew and understood him. His only real love in a tragic life. He had tried to explain the necessity of this political move, that he wouldn’t really be married in his heart, that they could continue to spend time together in secret. She refused. He was hers or he could be someone else’s. She would not be a secret mistress. Why was she so stubborn? Of course he understood, it was what made her so appealing. She would never compromise her beliefs. He