The Sword and Laser discussion

After The Name of the Wind, and now The Wise Man's Fear, I have to say: I have never been so nervous about whether or not someone would misplace their lute.

He really misplaces it a lot. It's almost a running gag, how often he damages/destroys/misplaces/loses/etc. his lute.

I always thought of his lute as a metaphor for his self confidence. He's always at his best when he has it and it's absent when he's in the present tense at his inn.