I have a problem with starting the Book of Swords quest with Harnquist.  I have reached level 5 of metallurgy but Harnquist always says he needs no help.
In recruiting some help from others, I discovered that a quest I had dismissed was still there, thereby blocking my attempts to get new quests.  Two things are wrong here:
1. I shouldn't have that quest in the first place, it was the Working with Stock quest that I had already received and completed.  I only accepted it because I thought it would lead to something new.
2. I try giving the items to Harnquist and he will not accept them.

I was later told that in an effort to fix some known quest problems, the developers locked out the function of dismissing quests.  Therefore, I would like to know what the workaround is for dismissing a quest.  I would even be happy to do the quest again if possible, instead of being told that Harnquist will not accept the items.

Is there indeed a workaround?  Is there another NPC that will give the Book of Sword quest (like maybe Trasok)?  Otherwise I am just stuck in this limbo where I can't get the next quest item I need but can't finish the current quest or dismiss it.

Thank you for any help you can provide me.