at the age of seven, over his mother's objections, olaf became the foster son and heir of a wealthy but childless "goði" named thord, who was at the time engaged in complex litigation with the kinsmen of his ex-wife vigdis ingjaldsdottir (another descendant of thorstein the red). olaf's adoption complicated the issues in the suit and threatened to lead to a blood feud, but hoskuld arranged a settlement and compensated vigdis' kinsmen with gifts. by fostering olaf thord gained the protection of the powerful hoskuld, and hoskuld secured an inheritance for his illegitimate son beyond the limited amount he was permitted to leave to olaf under icelandic law. olaf accompanied thord to the althing when he was twelve years old, and his fancy clothing earned him the admiring nickname "the peacock."