Garion clutched at his chest as he ascended the stairway, letting out another violent cough to echo through the halls of the near empty Keep. With his next step he noticed the flecks of crimson dotting the stairs before him, speckled with color by his own blood.   When he finally reached his room, he undid the straps of his armour one by one, occasionally interrupting by more coughs. When he’d finally shed the plate covering his torso, the source of his pain was apparent. Upon the left side, a