The fact that there's no way to enter is the main point of making it like this. The villagers should already be there together with food and water and I'm pretty sure that adventures can just jump over the moat.
@Beregorn
The hand on the page 21 is similar to the one on page 30 but this time without the gum, that's why I think she didn't take it this time. We didn't really got a clear confirmation that she stole it.
It's most likely her mother. We will probably get the typical "save the princess" arc that will go for another 5 to 10 chapters . It will result with a small step towards progress but everything will go back to normal after it so the author can stretch the story even more.