The Vale was a divided geographical region. Many of its nobles were conservative but impoverished, while many wealthy merchants had riches but no standing. Littlefinger's base was precisely the urban class represented by petty nobles and merchants. These people were entrenched in Gulltown, and Littlefinger was merely their spokesman.
Dealing with Littlefinger alone won't be enough. I need to win over the entire Gulltown faction, Gendry thought. Littlefinger relied on money, but lords like House Grafton, who possessed both wealth and noble standing, could jump ship at any moment.
Many exhausted officers and soldiers rallied their courage and rested briefly. Only a very few stayed behind at the Bloody Gate. The soldiers there were delighted to see Ser Brynden, and the Blackfish warmly greeted every one of them. He had been their commander and friend for years. More of the cavalry mounted again after a short rest, bringing out all the energetic, shaggy-maned horses familiar with the mountain roads from the stables.
Gendry had sought out the hardiest soldiers most familiar with mountain roads, yet even he had not expected the roads of the Vale to be so difficult. The mountain paths were arduous. Without magic dragons, the Vale was an independent kingdom in every sense.
They set off toward the plains of the Vale below, with the Blackfish and Bronze Yohn beside Gendry, along with Ser Barristan Selmy, Anguy, Ser Donnel, and the others.
Their mounts picked their way carefully down the steep, rocky path.
Gendry reckoned that some lords of the Vale of Arryn held ambiguous attitudes toward him. After all, neither the Vale nor the North had gained much by following Robert. King Robert had also given Jaime Lannister a position held by House Arryn for nearly three hundred years, leaving everyone deeply insulted.
And he had