November 7th, 1862

Reddous Forest

Three miles outside Camp Reedville

Margaret blew a blast of warm air into her cupped hands as the sounds of the mid-autumn night surrounded her. The clock had just struck seven-thirty when Henry arrived, his horse as dark as he clothing. She smiled up at the man, stroking her own dark-furred mare as her brother slid off his horse.

"Find the place okay?"

"No, I didn't. I got lost twice." Henry snipped. He glanced around; his eyes glowing as he dipped into the Eagle Vision. "Why'd you decide to meet here?"

"It was easier to meet here, since Camp Reedville is three miles down the road."

"Aren't you worried that this guy will bring the entire camp with him?"

"A little."

Henry groaned as he rolled his eyes. "Seriously Maggie. This won't be as easy as you're making it seem."

"Oh, I know that." Margaret removed her hands from where they were tucked underneath her armpits and held them up in a surrendering motion. "We're two people outnumbered and possibly outgunned, but you forget brother that we have the advantage of knowing what we're doing. We hold the cards right now. And we can easily book it if need be with a little smoke and misdirection."

"You have a point."

There was a silence that permeated the air for about thirty minutes before the hairs on the neck of Margaret's neck stood straight up. It was almost like a moment before a storm, when the air becomes electrifying and supercharged, and there is a palpable change in the energy. Margaret stood straighter as she became aware of the change, and she sensed, rather than saw, her brother react the same way. She dipped down into the Eagle Vision, her eyes glowing in the darkness.

"They're here."

Almost as soon as the words were breathed out in a mere whisper, the two heard branches snap and barely controlled grumbling. Margaret glanced over at Henry as the lights of lanterns could be spotted through the branches. She raised an eyebrow as cussing could be heard, and a moment later, a group of four appeared. The four men, two men dressed in the uniforms of the Federal Army, one clothed in a fine suit and the other dressed in almost rags, was quite the group to behold.

She smirked wolfishly as the two Federal soldiers looked as though they were trying not to shake at the sight of the two shadow-cloaked figures stood there, waiting for them.

"Hello there." Margaret said.

The men started to jump, but caught themselves. The shortest man in the group, his heavy coat bearing the symbols of a Colonel, stepped forward.

"I assume…I assume that you are the one they call Shadow?"

"We are." Henry spoke up. The man looked back and forth between the two of them.

"But…. I thought…..."

Margaret couldn't help deepening her smirk at the confused sputtering of the Colonel. "We've taken as many precautions as we can to protect our identity. But that's not why we're here."

"Why are we here then?" The blonde man asked. Margaret raised her eyebrow at the man's hand as though he was reaching for his weapon, though he probably couldn't see the action as her hood hid her face in shadows.

"We're here to make you an offer that you should not refuse if you know what's good for you."

Margaret directed her baffled expression turned to her brother.

"Go on…."

"My sister and I are members of an elite group of warriors that has eyes everywhere, even inside the Confederacy, giving us a pretty good field of vision in regards to movements and plans."

Margaret spoke up at this point. "However, we don't have any eyes within the Federal Army. Your new unit will give us that exact advantage that we need."

"Hate to tell ya this, ma'am but they ain't gonna let us fight." The man in rags stated. Margaret's expression darkened.

"We will make sure that they will."

The man looked a little hesitant. But Margaret nodded to emphasis her point.

"We have people who are a part of the Federal Government, who can send down anything you need, within reason of course." Margaret assured them. Her brother sent her a warning glance, daring her to say one more word. She glanced back to the men, almost chuckling at the look of utter confusion. "Though with this conflict going on, our forces and resources are spread pretty thin as it is. But we'll be keeping a close eye on you."

She nodded to her brother, and they both saddled their horses in unison. The men backed up, fearfully it seemed, before turning back and heading back to the fort.

"Oh, and one more thing." Margaret called.

They turned around.

"We'll be sending one of our best men to help get you all into fighting shape."

"And who's that?"

Margaret knew they couldn't see it, but she gave them a crooked grin. "You'll see. He should arrive within the next two weeks."

There was an explosion of harmless smoke. While the soldiers were coughing, Margaret and Henry left, mounting their horses and making for the trees. The two road like bats out of Hell, making for the nearest town where they purchased two rooms at the local inn and some supper. While the two ate their meat and veggie stew, Margaret noticed something.

"I can hear the cogs turning in your head, Brother."

"What we're doing is incredibly risky."

"It's nothing that we've done before."

"Yes, but...using our spies inside the Federal Government as leverage, even mentioning the fact that we have spies inside the Federal Government...you're going to expose us and that is something we can't afford to happen."

"I know."

"Do you? Because it seems to me you're just asking to be removed from the field."

Margaret chewed over those words before looking her brother in the eye. "I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get through this war. Are you willing to do the same?"

He didn't say anything, only went back to his stew. Margaret knew that something was bothering him as well but decided not to press the issue. At least not for the moment. They had more pressing issues at the moment.

Like how they were they going to get the Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts ready for battle.