"There is a certain art to it," Morghus was telling Arokh the following morning. The black dragon returned his attention to the bay and squinted his flaming eyes. "You have to calculate the depth just so."
"Indeed," Arokh said with a yawn.
Morghus sniffed. "You can go spend an hour finding and chasing breakfast. I was just offering an alternative." So saying, he launched himself high into the air, did a sharp twist and dove down, plunging headfirst and jaws agape into the water with a great splash. Arokh watched with a kind of polite interest as his brother emerged, waddled to the shore and shook head and wings dry. Morghus then bowed his neck and bared his teeth, between which a good deal of sea-water drained out. Then he levelled his head again and breathed a short but extremely hot burst of fire that went no further than his own nose. Finally, with a grin at Arokh, he tipped back his head and swallowed.
"You've done this before, I take it," Arokh said, sounding amused.
Morghus licked his fangs and grinned again. "Great for a meal on the fly, especially over an ocean. Just glide over the water and lower your head, open your jaws so the water flows through them, and scoop up anything you catch. Don't drink the water, though."
"You've done that before, too?" Arokh was grinning now.
Morghus made a face. "It wasn't my fault. A sea serpent decided to pop its head up, I got startled... and swallowed."
"That must have been exciting."
"I had a hurt stomach the rest of the day."
"What are you two talking about?" Rynn asked, emerging from the tower with a yawn.
"Fishing," Arokh replied.
Morghus brightened. "Would you like some deep-fried fish for breakfast, Rynn? I can go catch some more."
"Would I be eating these fish after they'd been in your mouth?" Rynn asked.
"Uh, well, yes." The black dragon shook his head. "Humans. Dragons share kills all the time. I once saw two human children fighting over this piece of food. One of them licks the food, then the other one gives up!" He shook his head in bewilderment. "Giving up after one lick? What's the harm with a bit of spittle?"
Rynn stretched and felt her joints creak. She took a deep breath, and suddenly noticed she didn't smell too good. "I think I need a bath. There isn't any fresh water around here, is there?"
"You can use magic to make water fresh, Rynn," Arokh reminded her.
"Oh. Right. What about soap?"
"What's soap made out of?" Arokh asked Morghus.
The black dragon shrugged. "Something earthy? Or is it oily? Can't you just use a sea-sponge, or something?"
"Pumice is good for exfoliation," Arokh suggested.
"Pumice?" Rynn exclaimed. "I'm not going to find any pumice around here! I just want soap."
"Don't ask us, then," Morghus said. "Soap doesn't really do much for dragon-hide, except give it a nice herbal aroma." He let out a sound as if he'd just had a revelation. "Herbs! Don't forget to give your magic soap a nice smell, Rynn."
Rynn stared at him, then sighed. "Arokh, you're the one who has to carry me. What should-"
"Lavender," Arokh said promptly.
"Lavender," Rynn repeated flatly. "Right. Was there anything else?"
"Lavender?" Morghus said, raising an eye-ridge at his brother.
"What's wrong with lavender?" Arokh asked defensively.
"Nothing at all."
Arokh gave him a suspicious look. "I think I'll find myself some breakfast, now."
"Fish?"
"Preferably something bigger."
"Ah, whale!"
"You must be joking."
"Now, Arokh, whale meat is very good for you. As an added bonus, whales can actually put up a fight when you try to catch them."
Arokh gazed at him steadily for a while, then rolled his eyes. "Oh very well..."
"Have fun," Rynn said and the two dragons took flight immediately. As she walked down to the bay, she shook her head and muttered, "That must have been one of the most pointless conversations I've even heard."