Brushing Magnus' hair is pleasant, and he loses himself in the act of it. It reminds him of Tally braiding Tress' long hair, of when he brushed Magnus' hair at the forest camp, of Claudius washing and cutting his hair after he immolated Hastur. It's an act of care and great tenderness, and he's glad to do it for Magnus.

When he's finished he puts the brush on top of the dresser and checks the drawer again, and, as he hoped, there are a pair of barrettes that look like twin sprays of leaves shaped from green leather. He clips Magnus' hair back, looking in the mirror to make sure they're even.