I just grab the merc sitting in Candlehearth Hall. Stenvar or something.

Eola would be a good candidate if it wasn't for you having to perform a similar grizzly act in order to get her as a follower. I know 'cause I've done that quest. I ended up killing her and all her followers before they had chance to fully prepare their "lunch".

Now this is a brilliant quest! It's so hard picking someone since Beth did an amazing job with the NPC's.

#masterpiece

I choose some housecarls or, if you've done Malacath's quest, you can get an Orc follower at the cursed stronghold.