«Many men died and many men fled. Many men have come since to search for something.»
“Did the men name what they were looking for?”
«Men rarely stop to talk. You are the first one since the killings.»
"Did any of the strangers who attack fall during the attack? Are any buried here?"
«The dead men are already nourishing our roots,» says the pine tree with satisfaction.
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"What was the weather like when other men placed the dead men under the roots for you?"
[Betula waits for a response.]
"Did they place these dead men in one area, near a particular group of trees, or are they scattered around, near the roots of more trees than they are to each other?"
[Betula patiently awaits the soothing response.]
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«Weather? It was the usual Spring, not the same weather all day, and they did not complete the burials within the day either. They were very considerate, doing the burial. One body under each tree. There is one hear,» says the pine and sways backwards, away from Betula.
“My fellow grove-mate wishes to examine the body, would it be much trouble if we dug down to it, did what we needed leaving the body in place, then replaced the soil? We would avoid harming your roots," Betula then waits for the tree's slow response to be conveyed by the shake of its leave and the creaks of its branches.
«I am not worried on my own part, but I am not sure you want to disturb the spirit. It has been at peace since the body was buried, and I am afraid that disturbing the body might rip the spirit away.»
Betula is surprised by this tree's concern for the spirit of the deceased, "Does the spirit help provide you sustenance? How is it you can perceive the spirit?" Forgetting who she is talking to she asks in rapid succession, not waiting for Brother Pine's answer to the first to unleash the second.
«euh» the tree hesitates and the branches shivers, «I am not sure I can perceive it. It blends with other spirits of the forest. That seems to have been the ways of those who buried them, but I do not know these things very well. I do not know what will happen. Honestly,» says the pine ruefully.
“Thank you for your conversation, it has been quite enlightening. I must now confer with my grove-mate, telling her all you have told me and recommending we leave the body in peace. Should they choose to continue with this action I will resume our conversation that we can limit any damage done to you.” Betula pauses for less than a moment without releasing the spell, “If there is anything else you may wish for me to convey before they make their decision I would ask that you say it now, Brother Pine.”
Betula waits for a response if one is forthcoming.
«Thanks for your consideration. I hope you find what you are searching for, though you never said what that is. Many have come before you, so I do not know what could still be worth searching for.»
It does not sound as if the pine tree necessarily expects an answer, neither does it sound as if one would not be welcome.
"I am looking for those I knew here when I was a girl, more than ten winters ago... My grove-mates, I am unsure precisely what they hope to find. I am also quite curious about those who came to bury the dead men and I believe we may have met some of them or, if not those who did, forest-mates of theirs. Thank you again for all your help. I will attempt to return at some time to speak more but I am unsure how long we will stay here or where our short legs will take us when we leave. May your rain be adequate and your soil as desired." Betula releases the spell and removes her hand from the trunk. She stands with a seeming look of religious awe, eyes closed, takes a few deep breaths to collect herself for the faster communication of her fellow men.
She turns to Cath'rinne, beginning in Latin, "As you can see, someone buried the dead. They did it carefully, methodically, reverently and their burial, according to Brother Pine, has combined their spirits to that of the Forest. One each under a tree not all in a single pit such as usually happens after a battle. He says they are at peace. I recommend against disturbing them but if you choose to I will help you much as I can avoid disturbing further than necessary the roots of Brother Pine," walking around the pine to where it indicated the body near it was buried, "this is where he said it was buried. I believe those who buried the bodies are somehow related to those we were recently traveling with, Mordred and all of them... though perhaps those with more insight or connection to the spirit of the forest. They mentioned a... I forget his name."
Behind the pine tree, you can see the grave mound, more or less leaning towards the natural mound where the tree is growing. There is no marking on the grave at all.
Does Turold know anything about burial practices like that? Is it a druidic thing?
Sounds like an ideal burial in the ancient pagan beliefs of the druids. Most of his contemporaries would be Christian and disapprove of this practice. Many would believe the dead were given to Hell rather than to the Forest, but Turold being pagan, he may be well familiar with the practice, and know better than admit to it.
Turning to Turold and continuing in Anglo-Saxon, “what was his name? The wise man, the leader of the wandering forest hedge wizards? You’re one of them, right? Can you tell us of this burial practice? Why do they do it?”
Turold nods "This is an old druidic burial practice... as ideal as it gets, for those who haven't taken up the cross that is."
In Latin, to Cath’rinne and any others there, Betula says, “he confirms that the burials seem to have been done by Mordred’s sort of folks, least those who have not converted to the cross.”