Except we aren't talking about his life for ours. It's not as simple as that. Our choices are to give him to them, keep him with us, or kill him now.

We aren't murderers. [ A pause. ] At least, I'm not. He's more use to us alive than dead, especially if they want him, and besides that, they're going to fire on the Galicia anyway.

[ Aro trusts the word of these usurpers about as far as he can throw them. Their guarantees are worthless. ]

If the Archon's not an ally then at the very least he's leverage. Killing him is poor strategy, and we can do better than that.