Although you are young yet, you speak well and with reason. More than ten years have passed since last I saw the fertile plains of Phthia, that land I cherish for there stands my father's noble house, yet while I had by my side my loyal companion, my heartsickness was assuaged. Now too he has returned to my side as we venture forth to this strange new land, and so with me I shall have a constant reminder of where truly lies my home.

[Without such a reminder, he knows not if he could tolerate a mission that requires that he cast away his identity.]

Perhaps a war tore asunder our fatherland, thus forcing us to flee - but I would not wish to be taken for cowards or conquered men. Drought and famine may make a better story then - none would have trouble believing that the gods could be so fickle of temper as to abandon our fields for some slight or another.