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shall ride too。 Go！ You have yet time to clean the rust from your sword。'
'Mercy； lord！' whined Wormtongue； grovelling on the ground。 'Have pity
on one worn out in your service。 Send me not from your side！ I at least will
stand by you when all others have gone。 Do not send your faithful Grnma
away！'
'You have my pity；' said Thjoden。 'And I do not send you from my side。
I go myself to war with my men。 I bid you e with me and prove your
faith。'
Wormtongue looked from face to face。 In his eyes was the hunted look of
a beast seeking some gap in the ring of his enemies。 He licked his lips with
a long pale tongue。 'Such a resolve might be expected from a lord of the
House of Eorl； old though he be；' he said。 'But those who truly love him
would spare his failing years。 Yet I see that I e too late。 Others； whom
the death of my lord would perhaps grieve less； have already persuaded him。
If I cannot undo their work； hear me at least in this； lord！ One who knows
your mind and honours your mands should be left in Edoras。 Appoint a
faithful steward。 Let your counsellor Grnma keep all things till your
return…and I pray that we may see it； though no wise man will deem it
hopeful。'
Jomer laughed。 'And if that plea does not excuse you from war； most
noble Wormtongue；' he said； what office of less honour would you accept？ To
carry a sack of meal up into the mountains…if any man would trust you with
it？'
'Nay； Jomer； you do not fully understand the mind of Master
Wormtongue；' said Gandalf； turning his piercing glance upon him。 'He is bold
and cunning。 Even now he plays a game with peril and wins a throw。 Hours of
my precious time he has wasted already。 'Down snake！' he said suddenly in a
terrible voice。 'Down on your belly！ How long is it since Saruman bought
you？ What was the promised price？ When all the men were dead； you were to
pick your share of the treasure； and take the woman you desire？ Too long
have you watched her under your eyelids and haunted her steps。'
Jomer grasped his sword。 'That I knew already；' he muttered。 'For that
reason I would have slain him before； forgetting the law of the hall。 But
there are other reasons。' He stepped forward； but Gandalf stayed him with
his hand。
'Jowyn is safe now；' he said。 'But you； Wormtongue； you have done what
you could for your true master。 Some reward you have earned at least。 Yet
Saruman is apt to overlook his bargains。 I should advise you to go quickly
and remind him； lest he forget your faithful service。'
'You lie；' said Wormtongue。
'That word es too oft and easy from your lips；' said Gandalf。 'I do
not lie。 See； Thjoden； here is a snake！ With safety you cannot take it with
you； nor can you leave it behind。 To slay it would be just。 But it was not
always as it now is。 Once it was a man； and did you service in its fashion。
Give him a horse and let him go at once； wherever he chooses。 By his choice
you shall judge him。'
'Do you hear this； Wormtongue？' said Thjoden。 'This is your choice： to
ride with me to war； and let us see in battle whether you are true； or to go
now； whither you will。 But then； if ever we meet again； I shall not be
merciful。'
Slowly Wormtongue rose。 He looked at them with half…closed eyes。 Last
of all he scanned Thjoden's face and opened his mouth as if to speak。 Then
suddenly he drew himself up。 His hands worked。 His eyes glittered。 Such
malice was in them that men stepped back from him。 He bared his teeth； and
then with a hissing breath he spat before the king's feet； and darting to
one side； he fled down the stair。
'After him！' said Thjoden。 'See that he does no harm to any； but do not
hurt him or hinder him。 Give him a horse； if he wishes it。'
'And if any will bear him；' said Jomer。
One of the guards ran down the stair。 Another went to the well at the
foot of the terrace and in his helm drew water。 With it he washed clean the
stones that Wormtongue had defiled。
'Now my guests； e！' said Thjoden。 'e and take such refreshment as
haste allows。'
They passed back into the great house。 Already they heard below them in
the town the heralds crying and the war…horns blowing。 For the king was to
ride forth as soon as the men of the town and those dwelling near could be
armed and assembled。
At the king's board sat Jomer and the four guests； and there also
waiting upon the king was the lady Jowyn。 They ate and drank swiftly。 The
others were silent while Thjoden questioned Gandalf concerning Saruman。
'How far back his treachery goes； who can guess？' said Gandalf。 'He was
not always evil。 Once I do not doubt that he was the friend of Rohan； and
even when his heart grew colder； he found you useful still。 But for long now
he has plotted your ruin； wearing the mask of Friendship； until he was
ready。 In those years Wormtongue's task was easy； and all that you did was
swiftly known in Isengard； for your land was open； and strangers came and
went。 And ever Wormtongue's whispering was in your ears； poisoning your
thought； chilling your heart； weakening your limbs； while others watched and
could do nothing； for your will was in his keeping。
'But when I escaped and warned you； then the mask was torn； for those
who would see。 After that Wormtongue played dangerously； always seeking to
delay you； to prevent your full strength being gathered。 He was crafty：
dulling men's wariness； or working on their fears； as served the occasion。
Do you not remember how eagerly he urged that no man should be spared on a
wildgoose chase northward； when the immediate peril was westward？ He
persuaded you to forbid Jomer to pursue the raiding Orcs。 If Jomer had not
defied Wormtongue's voice speaking with your mouth； those Orcs would have
reached Isengard by now； bearing a great prize。 Not indeed that prize which
Saruman desires above all else； but at the least two members of my pany；
sharers of a secret hope； of which even to you； lord； I cannot yet speak
openly。 Dare you think of what they might now be suffering； or what Saruman
might now have learned to our destruction？'
'I owe much to Jomer；' said Thjoden。 'Faithful heart may have forward
tongue。' 'Say also；' said Gandalf； 'that to crooked eyes truth may wear a
wry face。'
'Indeed my eyes were almost blind；' said Thjoden。 'Most of all I owe to
you； my guest。 Once again you have e in time。 I would give you a gift ere
we go； at your own choosing。 You have only to name aught that is mine。 I
reserve now only my sword！'
'Whether I came in time or not is yet to be seen；' said Gandalf。 'But
as for your gift； lord； I will choose one that will fit my need： swift and
sure。 Give me Shadowfax！ He was only lent before； if loan we may call it。
But now shall ride him into great hazard； setting silver against black： I
would not risk anything that is not my own。 And alre