King Elk Forest The End of Burke Rochester.

 he hears mato's arrival, the short exhale of grandfather from over his shoulder but he doesn't look yet, mind running a mile a minute. right now he knows the look of sorrow on the prince's face will break him so he keeps his gaze averted as jomyo and queenie arrive, swallowing as he finally looks up from the snow-covered body. "old age," the morwinyon explains for queenie and jomyo, since they hadn't known burke. "the winter must've finally caught up with him."

finally, finally, he steals a glance at mato, recognizing the way his mournful eyes start hardening. right. they can mourn later -- burke wouldn't have exactly wanted them to stand around eulogizing him for kicks, and the body's still fresh. "we should pick a spot and bury him," delight suggests. "yes," mato echoes, "i've a spot in mind." he moves to burke's front as delight moves to his side, nodding at the girls to help lift the old man's stiffening form and carry him a little ways into the territory to be buried.