This is a story which belongs at the beginning of the Nexus novel.

In the first part, Lonely Caroline, we find that Caroline is having a difficult time being away from her wife.  She asks her friend Rhona to come by and cheer her up.  They embark on an adventure in a virtual reality, which leads into the second part, VR: The Rescue of Princess Irena, Part 1.  They undertake a quest to rescue Princess Irena, who is soon to ascend to the throne and become Queen.

In VR: The Rescue of Princess Irena, Part 2, they set out on their journey north with an archer named Levine and Dawn, a shield maiden.