Oh, you’ve changed, Owl Lady. It’s worth it.

Eda is having a bit of a mid-life crisis, to begin with.

Luz: Have you told Eda about your decision to le-

King: I-I’m not ready yet. I’m not sure how she’ll react.

Eda: Everyone’s leaving. Even King. I guess I’m no substitute for the real thing.

Between Luz being so (understandably) focused on getting home to her mom, and King’s newfound determination to find his father, Eda’s feeling a bit superfluous these days.

Then she sees that an old friend of hers has ascended to Head Bard, despite their literally tunning away when forced into public speaking.

Eda: How are you supposed to be “Head Bard” with stage fright?

Meanwhile, Luz and King are on a little sidequest.

Eda: So, why are you suddenly so interested in flying? Did you give up on returning to the human realm? I mean, I suppose you could stay here a little longer…

It turns out that Luz is at an impasse with her mouse friend at the moment, after Hooty SWALLOWED IT. She got it back, but it was traumatized by the experience. So she has plenty of time and energy to prepare for a flying race with King.

Luz: We’re gonna enter the competition to get King on camera to send a message to his dad!

Then Eda proceeds to drown her sorrows in apple blood.

Eda: I just don’t want to hear him say it. You know, I was finally getting used to having people in the house, then whoosh! Rug’s ripped out from underneath me.

Then she discovers this band of rogue musicians protecting wild witches.

Raine: They take your magic. They restrict your knowledge. They say they do it in the name of “unity”, but what they really want is control. You know what we say to that, folks? Shove off!

But the band didn’t plan on being surrounded, so Eda invites them into the sewers (like any revolutionary comrade would).

Eda: Word of advice: Next time you put on a performance like that, make sure you have an exit strategy.

Amber: Thank you. How can we ever repay you?

Eda: Well, you could let me join your little team. Hey! I may not have magic, but I am an agent of chaos.

True that!

Raine: Sorry. We’re not accepting new members.

Eda: Is that any way to treat an old friend, Raine Whispers?

Eda: So, the Head Witch of the Bard Coven likes pretending to be a rebel. Too bad they’re not very good at it.

Raine: Eda! You’re embarrassing me in front of my crew.

So they proceed to explain how Eda inspired them to start this band.

They totally have a thing for each other and I am here for it.

Eda: Raine, I know why you’re really here.

Raine: I have no idea what you’re talking about. […] Who cares about a stupid performance! This is more fun.

Eda: Whatever you say.

THESE TWO!

Eda: You know, you can’t run from your fears forever. Which is why you’ve got to get the jump on them. Give ’em a whack right in the face.

Raine: I thought you were just joking around. I only learned what it meant when I started teaching for the Bard Coven. The Emperor prioritized recruitment through force, and anyone who refused to fall in line disappeared.

Raine: Hey, if you’ve got nothing to lose, we could use the help.

Eda enjoys plotting to undermine the government, and she doesn’t have much else to do these days but wait for her makeshift family to fall apart.

That is to say, she could find far worse ways to spend her time than hanging out with Raine.

Eda: Rainestorm?

Raine: Haven’t heard that in a minute.

Eda: Oh, you’ve gotten so strong, it’s incredible! But how’d you become Head Bard with your stage fright?

Raine: I’m just that good. What about you? Do you still know any bard spells?

Eda: Oh, you remember the curse, it messes with my magic.

Raine: How’d you become the Owl Lady with your stage fright?

Eda: All right, you asked for this.

The music in this episode is particularly beautiful – you could totally buy it being magical. But Eda’s playing tends to burn stuff, whereas Raine’s made everything come alive.

Eda: Ha! Raine’s Rhapsody? More like Eda’s Requiem, am I right? Nah, I’ll leave the playing to the professionals. Call if you need me.

Luz and King start off their race strong, so when Raine actually does call, Eda’s prepared to answer.

But it turns out that it was all a setup, and what’s more, the Coven Heads clearly suspect it’s Raine already.

Raine: Eda, Belos’ plans are a lot more dangerous than I let on. He’s preparing some big spell for the Day of Unity, but he can’t do it without every Head Witch. If we can take out Darius and Eberwolf-

Eda: Say no more, Rainestorm. What’s the plan?

Raine: You say your curse messes with magic. I think I can make that work in our favor.

So they play together, with Eda’s music destroying and Raine’s seemingly helping to spread the blight. It works a little too well.

Raine: Look, we may not make it out ourselves.

Eda: But it’ll stop the Emperor, right? Then we play on.

She’s perfectly willing to die on that hill with Raine…until they snap her out of it.

Raine: Eda, do you have kids?

Eda: Uh, they’re not mine mine…it doesn’t matter. They both have real families to return to.

Raine: I don’t know what you’re running from, but a great witch once told me…something about punching fears in the face? What I’m trying to say is, don’t give up so easily. They probably need you more than you realize. We can find another way to stop Belos, together.

But then the other Coven Heads catch up to them (and catch them).

Eda: Raine, don’t.

Raine: Go. You know I can’t stand an audience.

why do i care so much about a person i just met this episode?

And these two poor kids were sent through an (offscreen) wringer of their own.

King: It’s okay. I’ll just throw my message into the garbage where it belongs.

Eda: No. This isn’t over.

Because she had to give up on Raine, so she’s determined not to give up on her kids.

King: Hi, dad. If you’re out there watching this I, uh, want to introduce myself. I like cheesy food and conquering kingdoms, though I haven’t conquered any of my own yet. But maybe you have, and we can compare notes! I’d love to meet you. We could do parent-kid stuff – toss a ball, burn some cookies, catch me going on wierd websites or something. Also, I found this symbol in the tower I hatched in. Maybe you could teach me to read it? I live with my favorite human and a cranky old witch.

Eda: Hey!

King: But, cranky or not, she’s the one who raised me. Which is why I am le-gally changing my name to King Clawthorne! Surprise, Eda! Now we’re connected for life and there’s nothing you can do about it!

Eda: Is that what you wanted to tell me this whole time?

It’s a lame bait-and-switch, but after all that Eda’s been through today, I’ll give it a pass just because I want some happy.

Meanwhile, Raine’s in for a heap of pain.

Kikimora: Emperor Belos was rather upset to learn that you had a hand in the recent raid incidents.

Raine: Guess I can look forward to my own petrification, huh?

Kikimora: No. It’d be too much of a hassle to find a replacement. The Emperor needs you alive and well for the Day of Unity, but until then, night-night.

Until next time…