12 - A Meeting of Minds

Augustus Albe has a rival. Samuel Quinine is out walking on the Begwyns with Lapricia Organdy. As they reach the circle of trees, they spot a distant figure on horseback. Lapricia explains that it is Abdul Hasib ibn Burd the reclusive Lebanese poet and philosopher. Known to everyone as Hasib, he spends many hours riding across the wild hillsides as he composes his linguistically complex but elegant verses.  Lapricia is well acquainted with him, as he visits her student blacksmiths when his horse needs shoeing. Further along the ridge, their paths cross, and Hasib stops and dismounts. He greets Lapricia, and bows deeply to Quinine. They are soon close friends.