[ There are enough parts of the tale that Balthier wants to leave out that it makes his telling rather suspect. The question does get him to look back to Basch, however. He seems to hesitate, running through an edit before he commits to the story. There were parts that weren’t particularly needful here, too uncomfortable to discuss. ]

He acted around in a manner common for thugs and the like, to establish order among them. My reputation did not carry, and so he knew no better when he pressed his attentions upon me—

[ He lifts his chin in a slight, proud movement. Challenging. He’s still a sky pirate, for all that they had once had worked together for a greater goal. He respects Basch greatly, but he can’t be apologetic for being a professional criminal. ] I pressed back, and forced his surrender with his own knife to his throat. Order established, I’d thought.