It's the little moments that screw with the premise

[beccaelizabeth]

So: The Belgariad is, for the first three books, about chasing around the world after a magic stone. The stone was supposed to be impossible to steal, because only the pure of heart can touch it. So after a few thousand years someone comes up with the idea of getting a little kid to pick it up. Innocence, purity, close enough.

But then:

Durnik smiled at him, bent over and held the mouth of the pouch open. "Put it in here, Errand," he instructed, "and we'll tie it up all nice and safe so you won't lose it."

The little boy delightedly deposited the Orb in the leather pouch. "Errand," he declared firmly.

"I suppose so," Durnik agreed. He pulled the drawstring tight and then tied the pouch to the bit of rope the boy wore as a belt. "There we are, Errand. All safe and secure now."

... is anyone else seeing the flaw there?
Either Durnik is pure of heart - which is actually believable, but nobody suggests it.
Or - the only thing you need to do to steal the stone is not actually let your skin touch it.

If he could carry it around in a pouch, so could the bad guys. So why did they need the little kid?

... Because he's important to the plot later, is why.