 Around 956 , Olaf , at Melkorka 's urging , decided to go abroad to seek his fortune . Hoskuld was opposed and would not provide trade wares , and the property of Olaf 's foster @-@ father Thord was mostly in immobile goods and land . In part to arrange financing for his expedition , his mother Melkorka married Thorbjorn the <unk> , a farmer who had previously assisted her in the management of <unk> . Melkorka and Thorbjorn had a son named <unk> . Olaf sailed to Norway with Orn , a sea @-@ captain and <unk> of King Harald <unk> . He gained great honor at Harald 's court , and was a favorite of the king 's mother Gunnhild , who had , according to Icelandic sources , been the lover of Olaf 's uncle <unk> <unk> . When Olaf expressed a desire to find his mother 's people in Ireland , Gunnhild financed his voyage . 
