There is a way to heal both soldiers in Aleroth. You need to explore the village and find a way to duplicate the healing gem.
Usually it is better if you delay main plot quests until you have explored and done other side quests. Completing the army quests, for example, would give you an invitation to the castle (1 of 3 such invitations), which leads to an area which would be quite difficult on level 8, if you were to sneak or use a spider statuette complete the army quests. I finished off much of Ferol (the first map) and Versdistis, and cleared the Rivertown sewers before heading to the castle, and didn't have any problem with the area after; some people suggest doing some of the Dark Forest first, as well.
What is your hit rate with the orcs around Aleroth, or opponents near in the farmlands?
You may want to explore around the farmlands, poor quarters, etc, and stick near inhabited areas until you get better equipment or do a few side quests to level.
If you head north and east of the farmlands you will eventually come to Ars Magicana, where there are a couple good merchants. Stick to the paths and there will be signs, and fewer opponents than off the path (there are still thugs, and the odd hostile animal, etc).
