“It must have been terrible,” Lydia Pina said, leaning forward.

“It was,” Megan replied, cutting off that flow of conversation. “I have been meaning to take the portal to Kanaka, though. I understand that it’s growing by leaps and bounds?”

“Well, we were,” the duke said, frowning. “But so much of the new lands are being broken closer to the coast that our sales are down sharply. Which is silly since we’ve all this beef on the hoof and the best slaughter houses in the nation. Transport, though…”

“Balmoran Canal…” Meredith whispered quickly.

“Well, if we can get the funding for the Balmoran Canal pushed through, the transportation costs will drop to nothing,” Megan pointed out. “Or the upgrades to the Nawlins ports. I think that KBC might be interested in talking to Commons Member Weiss.”

“Very good point,” the duke said, blinking rapidly. “But what would be really nice is if we could get some solid contracts with the military.”

“I suspect that will depend upon their needs, Duke,” Megan replied, smiling sweetly. “Especially if they have a tenth legion to support.”

“I do believe I said guaranteed, Megan,” the duke said, smiling back.

“Nawlins…” Meredith whispered.

“The Nawlins port upgrades are probably less expensive and would take a shorter time than the completion of the canal,” Megan replied, mentally kissing the support of the Balmoran contingent goodbye. “With that, leather and beef from KBC would be on a steadier stream. I think the military is more worried about guarantee of quality supply than actual cost, although it would have to be in line. But without that guarantee of supply, I think anything I would say would be dismissed.”

“And there is the question of what sort of legion,” the duke pressed. “Kanaka has some of the finest horsemen in the world…”