The word reached them before the dust of Shirin's corridor had even settled.
Charles and Zaid arrived within minutes of each other, both moving with the kind of controlled urgency that comes from keeping composure while the mind has already outpaced the body. They had been told only the bare facts, but a bare fact was enough.
Zaid was the first through the door.
He took one look at Sofia, his eyes narrowed, but seeing she was unharmed, he sighed in relief. With his head lowered, he held his forehead with one hand and shook his head, before facing Sofia again.
He strode over in long steps towards Sofia who was sitting on her arm chair. He said nothing at first. He cupped her face in both hands, his eyes gazing straight into hers.
"Are you hurt?" he asked. His voice was quiet.
"I'm fine," Sofia said, letting out a small smile to reassure him.
