"I would assume I could trust most members of Riftwatch with this."

There are exceptions, whether because Ellis finds them incompetent or untrustworthy or because he knows they aren't combatants.

Maybe Astarion fits into one of those categories, maybe he doesn't. Ellis isn't holding the theft against him just yet.

"And I'd think you'd prefer me alive, so you could keep harvesting coin out of my jacket pocket."