He's all set to point out that the Admiral is paying all of them, and the question cuts him off. His brow furrows, for a moment.

"At first. I was - I wasn't born in Avalir, I wasn't a wizard, there was some controversy there. I had to earn trust and respect, and for some people I never would, but that was fine. I had - there were people who could stop any of that from interfering with my job."

That was how they'd phrase it to him, at least, whenever Patia and Loquatius conspired in his defence.