The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet

"The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet" is the first book of the children's book series, The Secrets of Droon, written by Tony Abbott.

ummary

Eric From out of the car steps a human but he has small finns behind his ears. The kids realize that this is Lord Sparr. Lord Sparr asks the Ninns if they captured the princess but the Ninns reply that they have not. As Sparr gets angrier his ear fins turn darker. The kids, still in hiding, open the note Keeah gave Eric. The note reads “Thginot Dekcatta Eb Lliw Frodnefroz” Neal, Eric and Julie run from under the bridge but Neal bumbps into something, something he cannot see. The kids fell around the area where Neal hit his head and the relize that there is an invisible object. As they inspect it become visible. The kids see that it is a petrified tree. As they observe the tree they discover a very large spider with a round face, big eyes and a pug nose. The spider asks why the have come and the kids reply that they have a note for Galen Longbeard. The spider ushers them inside the tower and introduces himself as Max the spider troll. They climb up the inside of the tower to the top where they find a room. The room is cluttered, with jars of twigs and old books and other things scattered around. They also notice a large mirror leaning against the wall. In the center of the room is an old man. He was very tall and thin and he wore a blue robe and a blue cone hat.Max introduces the man as Galen Longbeard first wizard of Droon. Max tells them that he is over five hundred years old.

Galen welcomes hem then asks them if they have seen Leep, his lost pet pilka. Eric relates his stories to Galen and then gives Galen the note from Keeah. Galen also cannot understand what Keeah wrote but he suggests that it might be in code. Neal says that it might be written backwards. Neal reverses the letters and realizes that it says, “Zorfendorf will be attacked tonight”. Galen says that he must tell King Zello to defend Zorfendorf Castle. Galen then mumbles strange words and disappears. Galen reappears in an instant. He tells the children that he has just been to Jaffa city and that King Zello is sending his army to defend the castle. Galen asks the children how they got to Droon from the Upper World. Eric tells him about the magic staircase. Galen says that when Sparr made his Three Powers, objects of great power, Galen sealed the staircase to stop Sparr from taking over the Upper World. Galen explains that now that he is getting old his spell has worn off.

The mirror in Galen's tower starts to buzz and Galen explains that he uses it to keep watch over all of Droon.