I made it back to where the pile of ashes were...but the funny door is shut again so I can't get to it. Tried opening a save from when the guy was alive...and now the Leader of the Greybeards refuses to teach me his "hello"...(being vague to not spoil too much)...oh well...I'l await a patch.
That's too bad.I was disappointed with it myself at that point. The real fun of it is when you get out of the intro stuff and start off on your own.