Honora Catharping

**Honora Catharping** is an old steward, now the cook of the Hakelbarend household. She sailed with Violet Cross and is very stubborn.

## Biography

### *The Thief Knot*

Honora made a roast for dinner, and Mr. Hakelbarend took it out of the oven at six twenty-seven instead of six thirty as instructed, insisting that it was okay, since Honora had gone to bridge club. Honora exploded out of the pantry and rebuked him loudly for not following the instructions, insisting that she did have bridge that night but had stayed because she knew her instructions would not be minded. Honora revealed the members of her bridge club, Mrs. Ileck, Mrs. Macready, and Miss Unwin, stuffed into the pantry. Mrs. Hakelbarend instructed Honora (who was brandishing a card holder at Mr. Hakelbarend) to 'stand down', and after instructing Mr. Hakelbarend to put the knife in the right place on the knife block, Honora returned to the pantry. Honora later shouted instructions at Mr. Hakelbarend from the pantry while he made coffee.

Honora brought Marzana a cup of cider, as she did each day. Since a letter had come from someone related to a member of Violet Cross's crew and Mrs. Hakelbarend had not answered it, Honora engaged in her small rebellion: she told Marzana a story. Honora deemed that she could indeed tell a story to Marzana, as Mrs. Ileck had cheated, Miss Unwin had kept quiet about it, and Mrs. Macready had played badly. Honora told of the time when, despite the Morvengarde ships out to stop them, Violet Cross and the crew of the *Lancet* had managed to smuggle white truffle-hunting pigs, two of which they had gotten to keep. Marzana clapped and thanked Honora, then went to 'see about the ladies', and Marzana wondered if Honora had locked them in when she'd left.

Marzana called Honora to say that she would be going to Surroyal Books for a game, and Honora, who hated phones and had never quite figured them out, shouted an answer, then hung up abruptly and loudly. At dinner, Honora discovered that the bacon had been severely burned, and rebuked Mr. Hakelbarend, disbelieving his (truthful) claims that it had been his wife that had made the bacon. Honora bit a spoon to keep from telling Mr. Hakelbarend that he was grinding the coffee wrong. Honora answered the door and informed Mrs. Hakelbarend that Moth and Christopher Fletchwood had arrived, then let them in. She helped with the flowers they brought and commented upon Tumbler Fletchwood. Honora then let Mr. Larven in and told them that dinner was soon. She made dinner and did not eat with them as always, having disappeared the place Mrs. Hakelbarend had set for her.

Honora brought Marzana cider again that night, and Marzana asked to know the names of different types of knots—for school, she said. Honora listed many different kinds of functional knots, such as bowlines, butterflies, and shanks, then listed the "sneaky-boots" knots, thief knots and grief knots, suggesting that Marzana too was a sneaky-boots. Honora, assuming Marzana knew how to tie a reef knot (she didn't) showed her how they were different from it, and explained how the knots were traps and tied them as an example. Marzana thanked Honora and Honora went out.

Ciro came over for a visit. Honora brought up lemonade and cookies, commenting on the Marx Brothers movie Ciro had chosen as she passed. Marzana thanked Honora. Marzana then, since her parents were interrogating someone, asked Honora if everything was okay, to which she replied that it was somewhat, then suggested that Marzana not get the soot all over the furniture. Marzana realized that there was indeed soot all over her, as she had been kneeling in the fireplace to listen in, and went to change. Marzana then relayed Ciro's message to Honora, who was preparing dinner. Honora provided dinner, then went to the market.

Marzana called Honora, who said that her parents were out on something that had come up suddenly, then lied to say that she was going to Ciro's house. When she returned with her parents, Honora met them, and Meddy showed herself to Honora, who, to Marzana's surprise, did not react much, just commented upon the oddity of the thing. Honora then provided coffee and commented upon Leroy Jenkins. Honora later informed Mrs. Hakelbarend that someone was at the door to see her, and it was the Snakebird.

## Physical appearance

Honora has many tattoos. She is tall, thin, and knotty. She walks loudly, seeming to stomp, and walks like a sailor on a ship still.

## Personality and traits

Honora is extremely loyal to Marana's mother, whom she calls Captain V., and also to Marzana. She is very particular about the way things in the kitchen are done, and rebukes anyone who does not do it her way. Honora is very blunt.