Raised in a village in ninth century Europe, Johanna is the daughter of the local priest, a cruel, vindictive man who wishes her brothers to attend a cathedral school and become Catholic scholars. Secretly taught to read and write by her eldest brother, she is discovered by a visiting Greek scholar who becomes her mentor. He champions Johanna's learning and promises to secure her a place at the school, much to her father's anger. Johnanna runs away after being denied the opportunity by her father, to seek out the promise of knowledge.