9!
The groundskeeper looks at you in silent challenge for a moment, not sure why you're not meeting his gaze as you scan the area.
Then the vines wrap suddenly around his throat and limbs and start pulling every which way, spurred into betrayal by nothing more than a gentle whisper. The groundskeeper's scream is cut off midway as the vines constrict around his throat, and you jump down quite gingerly and step into the garden, which appears more than willing to welcome you as its new master. You sing and you dance and you bring all the wild and wicked flora of the grounds in around you, slowly shaping a magnificent dress of many colors around your formerly plain wardrobe, weaving three circles round the groundskeeper as he slowly asphyxiates. The vines pull back every now and then, letting the man's bleeding throat recover enough to take a single breath, then strangle him again.
Can't have him expiring too soon. HE'S GOT HIS BEST SUFFERING STILL AHEAD OF HIM
Clever man that he is, the groundskeeper decides to forgo breathing for one particular round in favor of calling to you - you decide to permit this as the rest of the garden comes under your control. Please, he says, spare him! He'll do anything!
Your ears prick up as you place flowers in your hair. Anything? should be careful with that kind of talk ESPECIALLY AMONG THOSE WITH KEEN IMAGINATIONS
You thoughtfully consider this as the vines put him through another round of non-lethal strangulation. Really, anything at all? You look into his eyes, and see the spark of a minor demon in his eyes - this too you have made readily subservient. Experimentally, you ask him to swear an oath to betray his master from here to eternity - and he does, once you grant him a momentary reprieve from the vines.
Pick 3:A) Treat him like a stolen horse. two orders of stolen horses on top of each other really
B) Rip the demon from his heart. HIS FLESH BREEDS WEAKNESS
C) Hurl him through the chapel window.
Send a strong message to the holdouts.D) Eat his memories. HE DID SAY ANYTHING
E) Use him to check for traps. face first preferably
F) Digest him partially in a giant flytrap.
Give him a certain weathered look.G) Entomb him in a tree. preserve his consent for future generations
H) Tear him apart and feed him to the little demons. BLOOD AND CIRCUSES
I) Rip off his head and keep it as a pet.
Like a servant, but more portable!J) Throw him hard against the castle wall to test their respective durability. CRASH TESTS ARE THE BEST TESTS