Chapter 3: Departure

Chapter 3: Departure

Over the next few days, Isaac stuck to his usual routine of intensive training with the guards in the mornings, followed by lunch with them and free time in the afternoons.

The Venetian magistrate, Miloto, did not cause any trouble for Isaac. The large paddle-sail warship he had purchased, the 'Saint Nicholas', arrived at the port of Constantinople at dawn on the third day.

'Captain Fidel of the Saint Nicholas greets you, Your Highness.'

The entire crew of the Saint Nicholas, led by Captain Fidel, met their new employer.

Miloto paid half a year's wages in advance and stocked the ship with enough food to last two months.

The slaves were almost fully manned and well trained.

The ship's overall condition was satisfactory.

Such were the merchants of Venice: greedy and efficient.

Had it been their arch-enemy Genoa, they would have sailed their fleet right up to their enemies' faces, pointed their cannons at them and asked if they wanted to buy their obsolete junk.

Isaac encouraged the sailors as usual, set aside five ducats for them to drink to the emperor's health and handed the captain 100 ducats to recruit more sailors and slaves and purchase additional supplies.

There was still plenty of space on the ship, so accommodating a further 100 slaves would not be a problem.

During wartime, slaves used for rowing were a strategic resource. With more slaves, there's no need to spare their lives, enabling the ship to move faster.

One hundred ducats were more than enough to purchase these supplies, with the remainder serving as a gift from Isaac to the captain and his deputies.

We must not be stingy with these rebellious sailors. We must ensure that they do not betray Isaac for Ottoman gold.

If anyone offers to buy my head, remember that I will offer double.

Only then will Isaac's life be safe and will the great cause of reviving Rome be able to proceed smoothly.

However, Isaac currently only has a few hundred ducats left.

Watching his fortune dwindle so quickly, Isaac is at a loss for words.

In the evening, he pays another visit to his uncle, John VIII, who is still overjoyed, and dinner is a great success.

Isaac seizes the opportunity to ask his uncle to increase his guard to 100 men, keeping 20 cavalry and adding 80 infantrymen and archers.

He had a good reason: he was going south to take part in the Battle of Corinth.

By this time, the Byzantine Empire had lost all of its high-quality military resources and its military district and imperial guard systems had collapsed completely. Constantinople's defences were usually maintained by fewer than 3,000 men, with some sections of the city walls relying on village militias and church guards.

One hundred men is neither a large nor a small number.

His uncle hesitated for a moment, but then agreed. However, he only promised to be responsible for recruiting the soldiers; the costs would have to be borne by Isaac himself.

Isaac gritted his teeth and pulled out 300 ducats.

'Please ask His Majesty to find some more strong young men. We are going to fight across the sea, and malnourished militia and inexperienced citizens will be no use to us."

'Certainly,' promised Ioannis.

In the following days, the troops recruited by Ioannis arrived one after another, meaning that the guards no longer had to carry out patrols and defend the city.

It must be said that Ioannis was quite accommodating. Among the sixty newly recruited infantrymen, many were of lower noble birth. They were equipped with chain mail and helmets, and besides the standard spears, they were also armed with round shields and long swords. They were all devout Greek Orthodox Christians, loyal to the Empire.

The 20-foot archers were descendants of Serbian mountain tribes, whose ancestors had migrated to the vicinity of Constantinople and often served the Empire as mercenaries.

They were equipped with powerful bows and leather armour, and they carried curved swords at their waists.

John also selected some horses from the royal stables to serve as replacement mounts for the cavalry, which were in short supply.

His uncle loved Isaac very much and the cost of equipping these soldiers alone exceeded 300 ducats.

Once the troops were assembled, Isaac hurriedly took them out to sea for training, hoping they would adapt to the rough conditions as soon as possible.

Isaac also joined in the training.

The Aegean Sea and the Sea of Marmara did not have strong waves, and the Mediterranean Sea was renowned for its calm waters and high salt content. Most of the time, the sea surface resembled a large, sparkling pond.

However, the rough sea voyage still caused those who had never been on a ship before to vomit and have diarrhoea, and Isaac was no exception.

After vomiting up all the food he had eaten that day, Isaac regretted it immensely.

Experienced sailors on the deck pointed and laughed at him from time to time.

The soldiers were dissatisfied with the prince's actions, but when they saw the 12-year-old prince vomiting and having diarrhoea alongside them, they swallowed their curses. When they set foot on land again, it was as if everyone's souls were rejoicing.

"My soldiers, tonight's wine is on me! May His Majesty always be healthy!'

Isaac took out five more shiny gold ducats and gave them to Captain Mikhail to prepare a banquet.

The young men had already heard that the sailors were drinking the prince's fine wine and were looking forward to doing the same.

He had to treat everyone equally, without showing favouritism.

Isaac looked at the cheering soldiers and wiped the sweat from his face.

Everything was ready. All that remained was to wait for news from the grain transport fleet.

Two days later, on 11 November 1444, John VIII and the Latin merchants reached an agreement. Venice agreed to lease two merchant ships to transport military provisions and equipment.

Consequently, Isaac's small contingent, comprising the Prince's Guard of 100 men led by Michael, Andrew's attendants, and the Saint Nicholas paddle-sail warship with 53 sailors and 56 slaves led by Field, assembled and prepared for the escort mission.

As evening fell, the sailors loaded boxes of food, barrels of fresh water and essential military equipment, such as arrows and gunpowder, onto the deck. The soldiers boarded the ship in an orderly manner and waved goodbye to the crowd on the shore.

Under the supervision of overseers, the slaves checked the gunpowder magazines and maintained the sails and ropes.

Meanwhile, the other two merchant ships, the Pisa-built 'Independence' and the Venice-built 'Hawk', which were carrying grain, were ready, with the captains and first mates making their final inspections.

Isaac was the last to board the St. Nicholas, looking towards the city.

They were in the port of Plausphilian in the Golden Horn, with the Genoese colony of Galata to the north and the ancient Acropolis faintly visible to the east.

A crowd of citizens had gathered on the shore to see the fleet off, cheering, 'Long live the emperor!' and praying for victory.

'Your Highness, everything is ready.'

Captain Fidel whispered.

Isaac took a long look at Constantinople as it sank into the night, then turned his head.

"Set sail!"

At John VIII's request, the fleet departed from the Golden Horn, circled Constantinople and allowed more citizens to see the purple double-headed eagle flag flying at the bow, inspiring national pride.

The fleet moved slowly forward, passing the Acropolis, the Hagia Sophia and the Imperial Palace, accompanied by the ringing of church bells.

After rounding the peninsula, the fleet reached the Sea of Marmara, where crowds had gathered at the city's two southern ports to see them off.

Everyone had been suppressed for too long. The Byzantine Empire had not experienced a military victory in ages. Citizens had grown up hearing tales of their ancestors' glory days in Constantinople, but now they faced the advancing Ottoman cavalry and constant cannon fire against the city walls.

News of Isaac's father's victory in Corinth in the south, combined with the good news from the Crusaders in the north, greatly encouraged the people.

"Let's go!"

Isaac ordered.

Carrying the hopes of the citizens of Junburg, the fleet set sail southwards.

Shortly after Isaac's departure, the citizens of Junburg dispersed in small groups, still talking excitedly.

Meanwhile, on the road leading north, a scout rode his horse at full speed, his face filled with panic and anxiety like never before.

The guards at the city gate stopped him.

"No one is allowed to pass at night!"

The knight collapsed on the ground, panting heavily.

'Warna has been defeated, the King of Poland has been killed, and the entire army has been annihilated...'

The guards were rendered speechless and stood there helplessly.

The crowd grew larger and faint cries and prayers began to spread through it.

At that moment, the last rays of sunlight ended their day's sermon on Earth, lingering reluctantly over the cathedral's dome.

Darkness enveloped the entire city.