YAY I WAS RIGHT.
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.
Kindle your transgressions, [Kindle = fire reference to his magic. Transgressions is also a reference to his mistakes/social errors on bursting into the Basin.]
Good.
Forget your ambitions [Personality reference.]
Good. Could also refer to his history, challenging Kri for Leadership.
Continue to tie a gilded noose around your throat. [Gilded= reference to his coloring. The noose is a reference to his continuing efforts on snagging Delinne and their child, despite the Basin threatening him. He causes his own problems.]
Gilded was a great color ref.
One knot for audacity, [Personality reference.]
A slip for devotion, [Personality reference.]
A march up thirteen steps for impudence. [Infamous thread in Basin. His actions could be seen as insolence towards Basin members telling him to leave.]
All of these fit well too.
Now all we need is the fall.
A sudden drop, a quick stop.