'Return of the Crimson Guard' - Prologue and First Chapter

If you're a Malazan fan then you're one of many people eagerly awaiting Ian Cameron Esslemont's 'Return of the Crimson Guard', due out in the next two or three months (don't have the exact date on me). Anyone hoping for an advance 'taster' would do well to get themselves a copy of Bantam's UK mass market edition of 'Night of Knives' as the prologue, and first chapter, of 'Return...' can be found nestling quite nicely at the back of the book. I've just read it and it has whetted my appetite for the finished product, Esslemont looks like he is really going to come into his own with this book!
I don't want to give too much away but I reckon I can safely tell you the following...

Prologue:

Esslemont uses an Erikson device of setting the prologue millenia before the main story, in the Elder Age to be precise. A child of the Earth meets the Bastard of Light and Draconus isn't too far behind... It's interesting to see the form that Dragnipur takes before it's final forging...

Chapter One:

This takes place on the Weeping Plains of the Bael sub-continent in the 11th year of Empress Laseen's reign. A siege is about to enter a decisive phase and we get to meet some of the main players through the eyes of a scout called Kyle (I don't know how much of a part he will have to play in the rest of the book). Stalker is intriguing and Cowl looks like he well deserves the position of premier mage in the Crimson Guard. The character that I'm most looking forward to finding out more about is Greymane who makes an appearance in the opening chapter. Here's a man with a price on his head from both the Korelans and the Malazans...

As far as I'm concerned, it's all looking good as far as 'Return of the Crimson Guard' goes. Roll on publication!