Peter Hakelbarend

**Violet Cross**: Sometimes the only way to reconcile two people in an impossible situation is to change the situation. Isn't that right, Peter?

— *Ghosts of Greenglass House*, pg. 423 |  | ”

****P******eter Hakelbarend** is a former customs agent who moved to the Liberty of Gammerbund after marrying Violet Cross. He has gone caroling with the Waits on multiple occasions, and is knowledgeable and responsible.

## Biography

### *Ghosts of Greenglass House*

Mr. Hakelbarend arrived to Greenglass House with the Waits. He led the hobby horse, steering it and later guiding it out of the way when Mrs. Kirkegrim caught fire. The rest of the Waits entered Greenglass House when invited, but Mr. Hakelbarend and the hobby horse stayed behind. Mr. Hakelbarend asked Milo if Milo had anything to give the hobby horse, and Milo gave the skull a sugar cube. Mr. Hakelbarend praised this, then left to 'see to the beast'. He later returned with a girl behind him, presumably the one who had played the hobby horse, thanked them for their hospitality, and introduced himself and Marzana.

Mr. Hakelbarend then stood in the foyer. Rob suggested that he sit down, as it would be a long time before he was finished cleaning the chimney, but Mr. Hakelbarend glared at him and said that they were not doing a good job cultivating the mood, and did not sit down. Clem asked what the Waits did, and Mr. Hakelbarend answered, explaining about the Raw Nights and patiently weathering Lucky's interruptions. He quieted the Waits, who were arguing about the choice of chimney sweep, and summarized what the Waits did.

After Mrs. Kirkegrim and Marzana were knocked on the head, Mrs. Pine spoke to Mr. Hakelbarend, presumably, Milo thought, because he seemed more sane than the others. His reaction made Milo think that Mr. Hakelbarend had known, suspected, or worried that something would happen during the Waits' visit. Mrs. Pine explained what had happened, and he expressed curiosity about how something could have hit both of them. Mr. Hakelbarend apologized for imposing on them, and insisted that the Pines were good hosts.

When Milo suggested the guests tell stories, Mr. Hakelbarend looked blankly at him. He later stopped Mr. Larven, who appeared very drunk, from drinking more punch. He then tried to explain Mr. Larven's comment on Lizzie looking like a pepper grinder, before giving up and lamenting ever trying. When Mr. Larven collapsed, Mr. Hakelbarend came to help. Mr. Hakelbarend later stood by the hearth, arms folded, as Rob cleaned the chimney terribly. Mr. Hakelbarend received a room on the fourth floor, and nodded to Milo to say good night. In the morning, Mr. Hakelbarend still wore his huntsman clothes, having, Milo thought, not brought anything else, and listened to Rob as Rob talked, replying shortly occasionally, seeming disinterested, and looking at Marzana sometimes. Mr. Hakelbarend noted that he had been in the band of Waits that had come to Greenglass House the previous time. When Milo accidentally said something that sounded like an insult to the Liberty residents, Mr. Hakelbarend did not seem angry, and seemed to affirm Milo's feelings. He later explained about different hobby horse skulls that there were in Nagspeake. When Mrs. Kirkegrim came downstairs, he said good morning and asked after Mr. Larven, who she said she had not seen.

Marzana suggested that Milo ask Mr. Hakelbarend about the Liberty, who would know, saying she trusted what he said. Mr. Hakelbarend questioned this, and Marzana noted that she didn't always like it, but usually trusted it. Mr. Hakelbarend seemed reluctant to tell a story, but after Lucky agreed, so did he. Mr. Pine and Mr. Hakelbarend spoke to each other at the dining table, and Mr. Hakelbarend then sat in a chair. Milo explained about having found poison in Mr. Larven's punch, and Rob joked that this was the punch's secret ingredient, causing Mr. Hakelbarend to laugh. He then quieted the arguing Mr. Larven and Rob and confirmed with Milo that there had been poison in the punch, and with Mr. Larven that he'd put spices in a tea ball.

Mr. Hakelbarend volunteered to tell his story first. He explained some things about the Liberty, then began his story. He told of Whit Gammerbund, the namesake of both the Liberty and the Chapel of St. Whit. Whit was only a boy at the time of the story, and was already wanted in the United States for being an escaped slave and in Nagspeake for being a smuggler. One of Morvengarde's bounty hunters had been sent after Whit, a man who was ruthless and nearly impossible to shake. Whit had gone to the Liberty, and been given a passport that granted him asylum. The hunter had followed, killing the warder to get through, and Whit met several mythical strangers who allowed Whit through and sent him onward through the winding, magical passages, then unfolded their wings (to his surprise) and barred the hunter. The third person he met took the hunter with her, and gave Whit directions to go on, and Whit realized that he had his own wings now. During the story, Milo, who had been expecting real history, was surprised by the wings, but later admitted that he had really enjoyed the tale. Mr. Hakelbarend explained that while the story might not be literally true, the point of a story, he thought, was to convey a truth.

Milo realized that Mr. Hakelbarend was Marzana's father, and confronted her with the information. Marzana, surprised, confirmed this and explained that it was what they did whenever they left the Liberty. Milo and Meddy supposed that Mr. Hakelbarend was a wanted man, perhaps a smuggler, and had gone for asylum in the Liberty, and this was why he liked the story of Whit so much. Milo, however, did not think Mr. Hakelbarend was the culprit. Mr. Hakelbarend listened as Lucky told her tale. Milo then told a story about Violet Cross, and Emmett interrupted to make a joke about Deacon and Morvengarde, which Mr. Hakelbarend laughed at. When Marzana got upset about Milo, she said, getting the story wrong, Mr. Hakelbarend tried to stop her, then comfort her, but she refused to let him. Mr. Hakelbarend explained that the stories of the famous smugglers did belong to everyone, though they belonged to some more than others. Milo asked Mr. Hakelbarend if he was a mapmaker, but he said he wasn't, only an enthusiast. After Mr. Larven referenced the derrotero, Mr. Hakelbarend stared him down, then went to get coffee. Milo thought Mr. Hakelbarend was a smuggler who had been on Violet Cross's crew.

Mr. Hakelbarend went up to his room. After hearing about the thefts, he fumed. When Mrs. Kirkegrim went to leave, he volunteered to stay, glaring at her. His expression later seemed unreadable, as she went. Milo found the outbuilding where the hobby horse stuff had been stashed. He later heard Mr. Hakelbarend among those searching for him outside. He came back, and put a hand on Mrs. Kirkegrim's shoulder, to keep her from leaving again, Milo thought, and he then guided her to a chair. Milo then realized that Mrs. Kirkegrim was Marzana's mother, and Mr. Hakelbarend's wife. When Mrs. Kirkegrim, revealed now as Violet Cross, revealed that he was the customs agent she'd, according to legend, fallen in love with, Emmett, also a customs agent, realized he recognized Mr. Hakelbarend, having read his file. When Meddy appeared, Mr. Hakelbarend folded his arms and whistled. He later told Marzana not to feel bad about Milo figuring out her secret. He agreed that the Waits should go. Owen thanked Mr. Hakelbarend and Mrs. Kirkegrim for coming, as it had meant a lot to him and Clem to meet them.

### *The Thief Knot*

Marzana arrived home, where she found that her parents had a guest, Emmett Syebuck. They had invited him to stay for dinner. Mr. Hakelbarend took the roast out of the oven at six twenty-seven instead of six thirty, insisting that Honora was at bridge club, but Honora burst out of the pantry where she had been playing bridge and launched into a tirade at him. Emmett then told them about the kidnapping of Peony Hyde, the daughter of Winston Hyde, and how he needed the Hakelbarends' help finding the three suspects, since they had connections. They speculated about whether the kidnappers were in the Liberty. Emmett then left. Both told Marzana why she could not help, because they wanted to keep her out of danger.

The Hakelbarends discussed what they'd found out about the three suspects, Rob Gandreider, Hickson Blount, and Rose Mirassat. Moth and Christopher Fletchwood showed up, and Mr. Hakelbarend comforted his wife. Marzana later heard her parents and Mr. Larven interrogating Rob Gandreider, who had been mysteriously let out of jail. Rob accused Mr. Hakelbarend of being a city cop forever, which he said was a stupid thing to say to his face. Mr. Hakelbarend then informed Rob that Rob had been set up as a red herring. Mr. Hakelbarend called Emmett's friend Thad with the news of what they'd learned from Rob. He reported what Thad had found out from the policeman who'd let Rob out, Flynn.

Mr. Hakelbarend showed up to Mrs. Agravin's house along with Mrs. Hakelbarend, where Marzana, J.J., and Meddy already were with the missing girl Peony Hyde. He took over calling the police, and when they arrived, he spoke with an officer. He stayed behind when Mrs. Hakelbarend took the kids home, telling the baffled Mrs. Agravin, who had arrived, what was going on. Mr. Hakelbarend later returned home, and commented upon how odd things had been, such as reporters showing up. He turned on the TV and watched the Hydes on the news. Mrs. Hakelbarend told him about the Snakebird's visit, and how she thought the Snakebird had somehow been used as a pawn. Mr. Hakelbarend reminded Marzana of all the dangerous things that could have happened with her getting involved.

Marzana and her group found out that the girl they had rescued had not been Peony Hyde, but Tasha Cormorant, the organizer of the scheme. Marzana, Emilia, J.J., and Meddy went to Mergenthaler Street Station where they had figured out the kidnappers would be, while Nialla and Ciro stayed back to contact Marzana's parents and Emmett. They showed up just in time, and Emmett and Thad took care of the kidnappers (Moth and Kit Fletchwood). They then commented upon the kites Marzana found Tumbler had left, the Windrose and the Portolan. They then returned to the Liberty, and Mr. Hakelbarend expressed his approval of Marzana's group, the Thief Knot.

## Physical appearance

Mr. Hakelbarend has dark skin. He is a big man, extremely tall and broad-shouldered. While caroling with the Waits, he wears a blue cloak and a floppy wide-brimmed hat, underneath which he wears a huntsman's outfit: tall boots leather, laced arm guards, and heavy gloves. He has a deep, musical voice that sounds kingly to Milo.

## Personality and traits

Mr. Hakelbarend is the leader of the Waits, as he is responsible and seems the natural leader. He is reserved and quiet, often standing apart instead of lounging around. Mr. Hakelbarend used to be a customs agent, but then fell in love with and married Violet Cross. He is protective of his daughter, Marzana, and does his best to guide and teach her.

## Gallery

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