"So they will accept no other terms?"
The Praxian Ambassador shook his head, his optics dim with weariness as he looked at his lord. He had spent orns trying to negotiate other terms and failed on all counts. "No. We have tried everything, and we cannot afford to not have them standing behind us. They are the only buffer between us and the unrest of Kaon. My Lord- it would be my recommendation that we give them what they want before some beats us to it."
"There is a reason we have a limited time frame?"
"The ruling family has only a single creation, my lord. A mech, full frame for almost a vorn now. If someone else were to arrange a bonding…"
The Ambassador let that hang, allowing his lord to reach his own conclusions. The ruling Lord of Praxius settled back in his chair as he pondered the implications, considered the pros and cons of each option, and weighed the consequences. His optics wandered to the window, the scene outside of the mansion one of peace and prosperity. But the lord was not blind, nor was he ignorant.
Just like his sparker and his sparkers' sparker he knew what was going out outside of his palace walls. He knew of the still quiet unrest that was spreading through the population of his city-state, fueled by the rumors of unrest to the north. The transition of power from the old Prime to the new had been abrupt and unexpected. Rumors were flying and fueling the unrest. There was talk of war and rebellion in some places. His people needed peace, and a least some assurance of safety. While not even a family tie could prevent all danger, it would certainly grant them a buffer and a measure of security.
But to offer one of his children- Bluestreak was still song young and innocent, just recently having reached the age where he would start taking on the youngling responsibilities of the future Lord of Praxus. His femme creation was just a sparkling, and the she was the light of his life. In the past age had been a minor consideration in the overall scheme of arranged bondings, but he was not about give either of them up.
He tapped his fingers on the desk, the rhythm an attempt to focus his wildly spinning thoughts.
The Ambassador watched his lord, sensing his lords discomfort and having a very good idea of what going through the nobles processor. He had been at this job far too long to not have a read, and he could tell that his lord was not pleased with any of the possibilities. But he had anticipated this, and he had a plan.
"If I might make a suggestion my lord, there may be an alternative."
The Lord of Praxus glared at him. "You said that the only thing they would accept was a bonding. What alternative is there but to offer one of my children?"
"There is always your sisters child."
Lord Streetwise straightened in his seat, optics brightening at the suggestion. "He is not of my line…"
"But he is a member of your family, the ruling family. That is all they have demanded. They never said it had to be the of the direct line…" The glare from his lord stopped what he was going to add to that.
The lord let it drop. "Make it so."
"As you wish, my lord."