Violet Cross

****V******iolet Cross** is a famous smuggler and the maker of the derrotero. She smuggled with her crew for many years, before mutually disbanding and going to the Liberty of Gammerbund with her husband in hiding, using the moniker **Barbara Kirkegrim** or **Barbara Hakelbarend**. She is also the famous, elusive master thief **Cantlebone**. Violet Cross is the wife of Peter Hakelbarend and the mother of Marzana Hakelbarend.

Violet Cross came to Greenglass House with the Waits to recover the derrotero from Georgie and Clem, bringing her husband and daughter with her, undercover. Milo Pine, however, figured out her true identity and those of her family members, to her surprise. Violet Cross then returned to the Liberty, and investigated the suspects for the kidnapping of Peony Hyde. Marzana investigated too, despite what her parents said, but then Marzana succeeded and her mother seemed less angry.

## Biography

### *Greenglass House*

Mrs. Pine mentioned Violet Cross, along with Doc Holystone, Gentleman Maxwell, and Ed Pickering as being one of the great smugglers of the last fifty years.

### *Ghosts of Greenglass House*

**Clem**: And we aren't sure, but we think we know who it is, and if we're right, then we have a *huge* problem. There's a master thief called Cantlebone who sometimes turns up in Nagspeake, though you hear stories about incredible heists in other places that people think are his work. Or hers. We don't know. *Nobody* knows who Cantlebone is or what Cantlebone looks like.

**Georgie**: It's a weird thing, when you suddenly think your personal hero might be out to get you.

— *Ghosts of Greenglass House*, pg. 39 |  | ”

Georgie and Clem went searching for the derrotero, a legendary map of the Skidwrack that Violet Cross supposedly made, but the heist went wrong. Georgie and Clem worried that the famous thief Cantlebone was after them. The Pines believed Clem and Georgie that the derrotero was real, since it had been made by Violet Cross, noting how amazing the smuggler had been. Milo wondered how the derrotero could have been accomplished, and the ghost of Doc Holystone warned him that it might not be so obvious as a book. Clem and Georgie were suspicious of Emmett, thinking perhaps he could be Cantlebone.

Barbara Kirkegrim arrived to Greenglass House with the other Waits. She carried a small branch hung with candles, among other things, and the candles eventually set fire to Mrs. Kirkegrim's cloak. She shrieked, interrupting the singing, and stamped on the branch to put it out, not noticing the flames on her hood. Mr. Larven, Rob, and Sylvester dunked Mrs. Kirkegrim into the bucket of water that Rob had been carrying, and she kicked furiously, hitting Mr. Larven in the nose. The carolers then got back into order and continued to sing. Milo invited the Waits in, and Mrs. Kirkegrim was delighted, as she was cold, and started toward the house. Marzana shouted for her to be stopped, and Lucky and Sylvester tackled her. Sylvester helped her up and explained that the sweep needed to go first. Mrs. Kirkegrim insisted that Rob hurry, as she was cold. Rob shouted at the other Waits, but Mrs. Kirkegrim scolded him for standing in front of the warmth.

Mrs. Kirkegrim hung up her cloak, under which she wore a blue dress and jeans. She handed Mrs. Pine her branch, apologizing for the burns and instructing Mrs. Pine to care for the branch. She introduced herself, then went to get a drink. Lucky noted that not all carolers had been before, indicating Mrs. Kirkegrim. Mrs. Kirkegrim got a drink, and stood by the window, blowing on her drink and chewing her fingernails. It appeared to Milo that she wanted to go back out as soon as possible, after she'd done her part.

Mrs. Kirkegrim thought she could have been the sweep instead of Rob, since she too was tall, dark, and handsome, if that was the criteria as discussed, asking if there was a problem with her being a girl. Lucky and Mr. Larven assured her that there wasn't, but Mr. Larven noted how she'd set both a table and herself on fire that night. Mrs. Kirkegrim rolled her eyes and turned away.

Mrs. Kirkegrim asked to use the restroom, and Milo showed her up. Marzana came too, needing a moment. Mrs. Kirkegrim emerged and informed Marzana that Marzana could use the bathroom, calling her Marzie, to her annoyance. Mrs. Kirkegrim planned to apologize to Marzana for upsetting her, and Milo agreed to go. Milo later came running back in at a scream, and found Marzana and Mrs. Kirkegrim standing up again. They explained that they'd been hit on the head, but did not know from what or whom. Mrs. Kirkegrim and Marzana were shown upstairs and given rooms to lie down and rest. Milo, Mrs. Pine, and Georgie wondered what could have happened, and informed Mr. Hakelbarend of the incident. Lucky later went to check on the two, feeling responsible.

During the night, Georgie and Clem's haul of Violet Cross's stuff was stolen. Milo asked Doc Holystone's ghost to tell him a story about Violet Cross, so that he could tell it to the others to get them to tell stories too. He later realized that some of the haul was hidden in Georgie and Clem's rooms, and discovered the spherical chalkboard, smuggler cards, and whalebone fan in Georgie's room before going to bed.

When Mrs. Kirkegrim woke in the morning, she had dark circles under her eyes. Mrs. Kirkegrim informed the others that Mr. Larven was still in bed, and did not take the hint that she should explain why she'd come caroling with the Waits, Milo thought on purpose. Milo later discovered Georgie searching Mrs. Kirkegrim's room for the missing pieces of the haul. Milo went to watch the guests during stories, but Mrs. Kirkegrim was sitting on the loveseat where he liked to be, causing him to find somewhere else to sit. Milo and Marzana discussed the Liberty of Gammerbund, where the Waits had come from, and Mrs. Kirkegrim noted that only most of Nagspeake's inhabitants were free citizens. Milo noted that Violet Cross had been presumed dead for thirty or forty years.

Milo suggested that the guests tell stories, and Mrs. Kirkegrim insisted that they should do it, as a way to give back to the Pines, noting that they had plenty of time before Lizzie's stollen was ready. She suggested that Georgie tell a story as well. Milo shared his plans to contribute one of his own, but wished to go last. Mrs. Kirkegrim helped wash the dishes at Clem's request, since she would not be telling a story, drying the cleaned dishes. After Dr. Gowervine's phone gave out, Mrs. Kirkegrim checked in with Georgie, who appeared 'stricken'. Mrs. Kirkegrim refilled her coffee cup before the stories, then deemed that they could tell stories and deal with the matter of the poisoned punch afterward. She commented on Mr. Hakelbarend's note that Nagspeake had been previously lawless, implying that it still was. She went to make another pot of coffee, instead of Mrs. Caraway, as she'd already heard Mr. Hakelbarend's story. She suggested a break before the next tale, and the guests did. She later provided Mr. Hakelbarend with a fresh cup of coffee.

Mrs. Kirkegrim suggested a toast to Milo, as he was soon to tell his story. During Lucky's tale, she watched Clem closely, and Mr. Larven watched Georgie. She noticed the burned smell, and Lizzie discovered the burnt stollen. Milo, recalling how closely she and Mr. Larven had been watching Clem and Georgie, went over the clues again and began to suspect them, seeing how the two of them could have caused all the problems and stolen the haul.

Milo told a story about Violet Cross, in order to get a reaction, telling how she'd smuggled maps into the city by way of kites, making kites a thing in the entire city. During the story, Mrs. Kirkegrim, along with the Pines and Lizzie, commented that Deacon and Morvengarde's maps were awful. After Marzana insisted that Milo had gotten the story wrong, Mrs. Kirkegrim not her that it was just a story and did not matter. Lizzie reported that Mrs. Kirkegrim had looked amused during the story, angry when Marzana spoke up, and annoyed when Mr. Larven mentioned the derrotero. Milo wondered if Mr. Hakelbarend had been a smuggler under Violet Cross.

Milo and Meddy heard Mrs. Kirkegrim and Mr. Larven arguing in Mrs. Kirkegrim's room. They were angry because each had said they couldn't find the things. Rob broke in, seemingly in charge, to Milo's surprise. Mr. Larven wanted to 'get rough', but Mrs. Kirkegrim thought they couldn't without being overwhelmed. Mrs. Kirkegrim deemed that if Mr. Larven wasn't lying, someone else was messing with the haul, and though they needed to know who that was, they couldn't stay upstairs much longer.

Mrs. Kirkegrim came down and pretended not to know what was going on, and Clem answered that someone among them was a thief, to which she pretended dismay. Clem informed her that someone had broken into her and Georgie's rooms. Clem told the guests that if the items were not returned, she would get the law involved, but Mr. Larven said that she couldn't do that, since they were Liberty citizens. Mrs. Kirkegrim looked into the kitchen. Emmett revealed that he was a customs agent, and Mrs. Kirkegrim pointed out that he didn't have the authority to make them stay. Mrs. Kirkegrim went to leave, allowing a fuming Clem and Georgie, who knew her to be the culprit, search her and her cloak. Mrs. Kirkegrim left, saying she hoped the things turned up and she wished them a happy Christmas. Milo realized that Mrs. Kirkegrim knew she could still get the things, knowing at once where they were.

Milo went outside to get the set of keys, deciding that they were the derrotero, as they were the only piece she'd bothered to smuggle out of Greenglass House, hiding them inside the stollen loaves and turning up the oven to ensure that they were burnt. Milo deemed that she was Cantlebone, as this hiding place was brilliant, and had infiltrated Gilawfer's band.

Mrs. Kirkegrim found Milo talking to the ghost of Doc Holystone, and informed him that it was not a ghost, but Gilawfer in a costume. Mrs. Kirkegrim gave Milo back his stick and told him to go home, but Gilawfer said that Milo wouldn't until he had the haul. Mrs. Kirkegrim denied being Cantlebone. Mrs. Kirkegrim gave Milo, who was becoming hypothermic, her cloak, and told him to go. Milo wondered why Mrs. Kirkegrim seemed unconcerned about the keys, and thought that she had incredible authority. However, Mr. Vinge then showed up. Mrs. Kirkegrim expressed disdain at the arrival of a customs agent, then pretended that Mr. Vinge had double-crossed Gilawfer through Emmett Syebuck, and Milo played along. Mrs. Kirkegrim said that she'd ran off when she'd realized that, because although she was not Cantlebone, she was not stupid.

Mrs. Kirkegrim insisted that Mr. Vinge and Gilawfer put away their guns, but they did not. Mrs. Kirkegrim gasped disbelievingly upon the arrival of the hobby horse. After the ghost of Doc Holystone showed up, the real one, Doc Holystone seemed to recognize her, but she insisted that she was not who he thought she was, only a big fan who he wouldn't have heard of. This reinforced Milo's theory that she was Cantlebone.

They then heard others searching for Milo, and found Owen and Mr. Pine, who said they'd thought they'd seen a ghost, and she commented that they'd seen two. They returned to the house. She ignored Rob and Mr. Larven when they tried to come up to her, instead being guided to a chair by Mr. Hakelbarend. She told Rob reluctantly, who was holding a knife to Milo's ribs, that Milo did indeed have what they needed. Mrs. Kirkegrim suggested that Emmett arrest Rob for attempted armed robbery, and offered to explain what had been going on if Georgie and Clem's offer of not getting the law involved if the things were returned still held. Milo explained to the room that Mrs. Kirkegrim was Cantlebone, and how she'd gotten the things out of the house, Mrs. Kirkegrim noting that Mr. Larven was a 'trusted lieutenant' of hers. Georgie and Clem were delighted and awed to hear that she was Cantlebone, each saying they were her biggest fans.

Milo realized that Mrs. Kirkegrim was Marzana's mother, and additionally, that she was Violet Cross. Milo came out and told Georgie and Clem to give the haul to her, since she was Violet Cross. Mrs. Kirkegrim noted that it was true, nothing stayed buried forever, and informed Clem that she was actually not dead. She explained that she had indeed fallen in love with a customs agent, indicating Mr. Hakelbarend. She explained how she'd blown up the ship and the crew had all swam out. Mrs. Kirkegrim had landed in the Liberty, and had once in a while been on a few 'excursions' since. Milo introduced Meddy to Mrs. Kirkegrim, who noted that she'd thought of Meddy a lot, and gave Meddy a hug. Georgie asked how long she had known that her stuff was being looked for, to which Mrs. Kirkegrim answered that it had taken her longer than she was comfortable with, but had found out when they'd searched for geologic surveys of old iron in the Quayside Harbors. Mrs. Kirkegrim had known they were looking for the derrotero, which she said everyone looked for.

Mrs. Kirkegrim had come for this haul, she said, because most of the tools she created should not fall into the wrong hands. But really, she told them, it was because of Gilawfer, who had informed on her many years ago and been the reason she'd had to pretend to die. Mrs. Kirkegrim noted that the iron structure had not been underneath Gilawfer's warehouse but in a totally different place when she'd stashed the things there. Mrs. Kirkegrim insisted that Georgie and Clem keep the things, as she now knew 'what kind of people they were'. Mrs. Kirkegrim wanted to take a keepsake for Marzana, which was the reason that she'd taken the keys out of the house, she said. Mrs. Kirkegrim had chosen the keys because she was very proud of them. Marzana, of course, chose the keys for her keepsake.

Mrs. Kirkegrim noted that she could use the reflecting circle for navigation if she wished, but it was probably a bad idea to rely on her use of it. Mrs. Kirkegrim commented on the smuggler cards, the Court of Runners in Nagspeake, which were hand-painted. Marzana found her mother's card. Mrs. Kirkegrim helped Clem adjust the bump keys. Mrs. Kirkegrim decided that it was time to leave, checking on Rob (who Emmett had well cared for) and inviting Georgie and Clem to come visit her sometime if they liked, to their delight. Owen thanked them for coming, because their visit had meant a lot to Clem and him. Mrs. Kirkegrim lit the candles on the branch before going, for luck. Milo later realized that the keys, which Mrs. Kirkegrim had smuggled out of the house twice without making it look like she was involved, were the derrotero.

### *The Thief Knot*

Marzana commented upon how she, as the daughter of a legendary smuggler, still had not had many proper adventures. Marzana went home, where she found Emmett Syebuck, and Mrs. Hakelbarend assured her that everything was okay. She then helped make dinner, trying to dissuade Mr. Hakelbarend from disregarding Honora's instructions, then calming Honora down. Emmett reported that Georgie sent hellos, then began to tell why he had come. Emmett explained that he had a friend who was a detective, Thad, and thought the culprit of the case he was investigating had come to the Liberty. Mrs. Hakelbarend said that they should extradite, but Thad did not know who of his suspects it was, Emmett said. Mrs. Hakelbarend made sure that Emmett had not told Thad who his contacts were, then refused to investigate Liberty citizens, but Emmett said that it had been a kidnapping.

He established that he knew they were not detectives, but they had connections, and Mrs. Hakelbarend agreed to hear what he had to say. Emmett told them what he knew about the kidnapping of Peony Hyde, Winston Hyde's daughter. The suspects, he said, were Hickson Blount, Rose Mirassat, and Rob Gandreider, at whose name Mrs. Hakelbarend seemed to prepare for battle. Mrs. Hakelbarend asked a few more questions and Emmett answered them. Marzana suggested a few things, which her mother thought were good points. They discussed the possibility of Deacon and Morvengarde's involvement. Emmett then asked to be put in touch with the Snakebird, and Mrs. Hakelbarend tried to convince him that he was not real before apologizing. Emmett then left.

Mrs. Hakelbarend had Marzana reply to a letter from Hannah Jones, a relative of Nick Jones wanting to hear from Violet Cross. Marzana then wondered why she could not help with this case, to which her parents responded that they did not want her to fall into danger. Mrs. Hakelbarend explained that bad things happened when people thought kids were involved, then sent Marzana upstairs. Honora, in protest about the letters, told Marzana about a time when Violet Cross and her crew had smuggled truffle-hunting pigs despite the Morvengarde ships patrolling. The following morning, Mrs. Hakelbarend commented on how Marzana seemed to be enjoying the bacon she'd burnt, seeming suspicious of Marzana.

Moth and Christopher Fletchwood, the sons of Tumbler Fletchwood, one of whom had written many times, arrived to see Mrs. Hakelbarend. She sat like a commander, and admitted that she had known Tumbler and had sent the letters back. Tumbler had died two years ago, Christopher said, and Mrs. Hakelbarend recalled when he'd returned to Nagspeake for a time, and reminisced about how nice he had been. Mrs. Hakelbarend refused to tell them a story, and steered the two men out. Mrs. Hakelbarend commented upon how those she had shipped with were dying and their relatives now wanted to know about her. Nick Larven then showed up, and Marzana resignedly left for school.

That afternoon, Marzana heard her parents discussing the suspects. Mr. Larven, Mrs. Hakelbarend said, was looking for Rob. She was impatient and upset that they had not made much headway. Mrs. Hakelbarend then made dinner, telling Marzana that Milo was on the phone. When she returned, Mrs. Hakelbarend commented upon the book Marzana was reading, *The Sidledywry Knot*, and after talking about the meaning of 'knot', Marzana mentioned feeling bad about Peony not having many friends. Mrs. Hakelbarend promised that they would find Peony, and Marzana realized that her mother was quite worried too.

Ciro del Olmo came over for a visit (on Thief Knot business, but Mrs. Hakelbarend didn't know that), and Mrs. Hakelbarend recognized him distractedly as the son of Katia del Olmo, then returned to her interrogation of Rob Gandreider along with Mr. Larven and her husband. Marzana and Ciro photographed Marzana's parents' notes. They then listened in on the interrogation. Rob had been let out of jail, but did not say more, Mrs. Hakelbarend promised to turn him in if he did not clear his name. Rob insisted that he wouldn't commit a crime just after he'd been let out of jail, but Mrs. Hakelbarend suggested that he'd been let out of jail in turn for helping with it. Rob eventually told that he'd been let out by an officer called Flynn and told to return to the Liberty at a certain time. Rob swore on the honor of his Liberty warrant that he had not done it, and on the condition that he stay visible, Rob was allowed to leave.

Mrs. Hakelbarend invited Ciro to stay for dinner, but Ciro left. Mrs. Hakelbarend discussed what to do after the interrogation, then informed Mr. Larven that she could pick a Hellcat. Mr. Hakelbarend heard back from Emmett and his friend, and they discussed what the knew knowledge of Flynn meant. In the morning, a package from Milo arrived, but Marzana did not know what it was about. Mrs. Hakelbarend said that she thought Rob had been set up as a suspect, and she thought Hickson and Rose would be that way too. She was of the opinion that the kidnappers were not in the Liberty, and that was a common false assumption by the city law enforcers. Marzana said that she had not had Ciro over before because she'd thought they would make a big deal out of it. Mrs. Hakelbarend asked if Marzana was okay, to which Marzana replied that she was, then left for school.

Marzana, J.J. (Nialla's friend), and Meddy (who had apparently been the package) went to Mrs. Agravin's house. On the way, Meddy told Marzana about how Alexander Cabot, Emilia's father, had saved Mrs. Hakelbarend's life by providing her with an alibi and warding off two customs agents. They then entered the apartment, where they found Peony Hyde tied to a chair. Someone came in behind them, and it turned out to be Marzana's parents, who entered and took over. Mrs. Hakelbarend looked around the apartment, promising Marzana that they would have a talk later. Mrs. Hakelbarend looked at Peony oddly, then informed her that it was time to go home as the police approached, and assured her that her parents would be very happy, and she seemed quite mad at Marzana. She inquired of J.J. who he was, then left Mrs. Agravin's house. She intercepted the approaching Mrs. Agravin and told the bewildered lady what had happened.

Mrs. Hakelbarend walked J.J. to his bus, then went home with Marzana and Meddy. Marzana told her who was in their group, and told her what they knew so far. Mrs. Hakelbarend commented upon the oddity of the situation and how Victor Cormorant kept being related. They had been waiting, she said, because they did not know Peony was inside. Mrs. Hakelbarend compared Marzana to Leroy Jenkins. Honora then showed up to say that the Snakebird had come, and Mrs. Hakelbarend enlisted Marzana to listen in on the conversation and notify her if she heard anything useful, refusing to argue with Marzana over letting Marzana be properly present. Mrs. Hakelbarend spoke with the Snakebird, who knew that Marzana had asked Peony if she'd heard the name Victor Cormorant, but did not falter and offered explanations for why that was perfectly reasonable. He then left, with a warning that his name should not come up otherwise. Mr. Hakelbarend came home, and they watched the Hyde family on TV. Mrs. Hakelbarend shared her theory that Victor Cormorant had been used as a pawn, perhaps for the first time, and knew it and was spooked.

Marzana realized that Peony Hyde had not been the girl they'd rescued, and her parents had seen some things were off. Marzana, Emilia, J.J., and Meddy set off for Mergenthaler Street Station, where they realized the kidnappers would be, and Nialla and Ciro stayed behind to track down Marzana's parents and Emmett. The reinforcements arrived in time, and Marzana informed her mother that, along with Tasha Cormorant, the kidnappers were Moth and Kit Fletchwood. Moth threatened to tell everyone who Mrs. Hakelbarend was, if she did not let him go, but she convinced him that he was not like that. They told the Fletchwoods that Tasha Cormorant was gone, and Mrs. Hakelbarend told them what Tumbler would have thought of the whole endeavor. Moth and Kit were then marched away.

Mrs. Hakelbarend wondered why they'd thought Tumbler had left them jewels. Marzana then found that it was an actual treasure hunt, ending in a locker that opened to reveal a Windrose and Portolan. Mrs. Hakelbarend deemed that Tumbler would want the kids to have the kites, and agreed that Marzana could tell Nialla and Ciro the story behind the kites. She assured Emilia that Alexander Cabot would not have done anything like Tasha had. Mrs. Hakelbarend listened to Marzana's feelings—she felt, to her horror, like she understood Moth and Kit—then praised Marzana for having become a hero. Mrs. Hakelbarend invited the whole group over to her house for a celebratory dinner (the real Peony had been found) and extolled Marzana's group, the Thief Knot. She then promised to tell Marzana a story.

## Physical appearance

Mrs. Hakelbarend has long, loose, dark hair, with slight hints of red in it. Her face is lined and she appears, to Milo, to be about fifty or sixty years old.

## Personality and traits

Violet Cross is very smart, innovative, and inventive. She has not been known to lose her cool, and does not seem caught off guard by anything. She can be quite stubborn at times. Violet Cross loved her crew and it hurt her to part with them.

## Relationships

### Peter Hakelbarend

Mrs. Hakelbarend fell in love with Peter Hakelbarend, and after she escaped to the Liberty, they got married. They work together on nearly everything, though sometimes Mr. Hakelbarend stays home with Marzana while something happens. They are quite unified on most everything.

### Marzana Hakelbarend

Marzana loves her mother very much, and is in awe of Mrs. Hakelbarend's skills and talents. Marzana does, however, have a longstanding frustration: she wants to know more about her mother's career as a smuggler and what she had done. Mrs. Hakelbarend did not tell Marzana much of anything, wanting to keep Marzana safe, but Marzana did not feel that this would help with that. Marzana hoarded every story she got, and eventually her mother began to tell her more, to her delight.

## Trivia

* Her father's name was Amos Cross and she grew up in the Bayside Quarter, in Crossjack House.

## Gallery

**Take a look at our **gallery for Violet Cross****.