Based off the recommendations of several posters I decided to hire Ilia as my Steward. Big, big mistake. She simply disappears for long periods of time. Worse, I don't even have the "follow me" option with her anymore, or at least I didn't when I caught up with her near Lorius Farm.

If I kill her can I get a new Steward?

I've heard her character is pretty heavily bugged. Too bad, she's a fairly proficient mage.

Illia has always been bugged. If you take her as a follower and dismiss her its almost a for sure thing you can not get her as a follower again.

That being said I made her a steward knowing this but at least she isn't in that castle. She is the BEST steward I've ever had hands down. Within an in game week she FULLY furnished the home she is in charge of. Aside from the celler of course as there is no dialog options for that. I had to fully furnish the home the family lives in and my other steward for Lakeview has done about 20% decorations and I had that home second. Windstad first which I built. Illia did an awesome job on the third.

Sadly due to her not being a follower anymore, she walks around in a robe and not what I gave her to wear.

Agree with Resident within, in my game Illia is far and away my best steward with no bugs at all, never goes missing and always good in defence, so i can only conclude your game is bugged in some way.

I think she was just very eager to please for getting out of that witch castle thats all dark and wet. But, repeating myself. Best steward I have ever hired.

Despite the accolades here, I decided to kill her. She apparently kept walking back and forth between Heljarchen Hall and Darklight Tower. When I finally tracked her down she was on the road just north of Battleborn Farm. Wish I didn't have to do that, but she is worhless if she is never around. I felt like I was killing Lydia since it is the same voice actor. And I never let the steward furnish the house; I build it myself. There are a lot of things that I don't want included and you can't get rid of them once they are built.

I now have Faendal as my steward and I am very pleased with the job he is doing.

Now if only Ysolda could get over her psychotic break and stop standing on top of the log pile.