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felt his entire life was concession after concession, first to survive, then to assure the survival of his city. He loved her deeply for her conviction. Could he reward it with betrayal now? There must be another way. “I’m still considering that question Sphrantzes, but let’s discuss additional options.”
    “I don’t know why you continue to press him about this,” said Notaras. “The Emperor has been very clear he doesn’t want to entertain a marriage.”
    “Maybe if you could provide decent defenses for the city, I wouldn’t have to press uncomfortable issues on him,” retorted Sphrantzes.
    Notaras rose out of his seat. “I will not stand for your words! What have you done with your spies and intrigues? Nothing!”
    Sphrantzes rose also and for a moment it appeared the two men would come to blows.
    “Enough! Both of you stop at once!” demanded Constantine. “We must fight among ourselves? We don’t have enough enemies and enough problems?”
    The men sat down. Notaras turned to face Constantine. “My Lord, there is another possibility. You could leave the city. Leave me in command. Sail to Rome. Plead directly to the West. You are more important than the city. You are the empire. This plan would have several advantages. Not only would a direct plea from you be far more effective than ambassadors but if the city fell in your absence, you could carry on the fight from Moria, or some of our island strongholds, or even join John Hunyadi in Hungary. You would be safe.”
    Constantine was surprised to hear this from Notaras. He was such a noble, honorable man. Flee the city at its moment of greatest need? Constantine was offended. Or was that fair? Had he not thought the same on many occasions? To get out of this noose ever closing in. He could make an appeal to the west. He could gather a mighty army and crush the Ottomans at the gates. Beyond that, could he recapture Edirne? Could he drive the Turks out of the Baltics entirely? He could be more than a savior to his people. He could restore the Greek world to some measure of its former self.
    What if the city fell in his absence? He could still raise a mighty army. The remaining Greeks could rally around him. With Constantinople lost, the Latin world would surely rise in mighty crusade against the Ottomans. And if they didn’t, couldn’t he just as easily retire in one of his remaining territories or even in Rome as an honored and tragic hero? Zophia could go with him. They could be together for months at a time. If the city fell, there would be no pressure to marry anyone for political purposes. He would be free to marry her. Free to have his life. He had never been able to give in to himself. Ever. He had spent his life in service to his people and his city. He would have everything.
    Everything but honor. He shook his head.
    “Loukas my friend, I honor your words. I would flatter myself that I am more important than the city. More important than my people. But I am not. Emperors have come and gone over the centuries. Some good, some bad. The city has endured. The city is everything. The city and the people. I will stay, I will live and die within our walls.”
    Notaras bowed. “As you wish, My Lord.”
    “As if he has a real choice,” added Sphrantzes. “You counsel a coward’s path Notaras.”
    “I won’t hear more of this!” interjected Constantine. “Let us focus on the matter at hand.”
    “My Lord, will you not take my counsel?”
    Constantine looked further down the table. Cardinal Isidore had spoken.
    “You have something to add Isidore?”
    “My Lord, the answer to this problem is simple. All the aid you will ever need is but a moment away. It is time to institute the Union.”
    The Union. Constantine scrutinized Isidore closely. Why would the Cardinal raise this issue now? Did he need more problems? More controversy? He didn’t trust Isidore at all. He was a creature of Rome. But Constantine knew that as always, he could do